§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement on the wage dispute now affecting the workers employed at Buckingham Palace; and what action he proposes to take to resolve this dispute.
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§ Mr. Kenneth BakerI assume that the hon. Member is referring to the pay of industrial civil servants working at the Palace.
An offer of an increase of £1.50 a week for adult male time workers has been made by the Official Side and rejected by the Trade Union Side of the Joint Co-ordinating Committee for Government Industrial Establishments. I understand that the next step is likely to be a meeting of the executives of the trade unions involved. I do not think it would be appropriate for me to say more at this stage.