§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is aware of the concern felt by the Civil Service Union at the delay in their pay negotiations; and whether he will give a guarantee that arrears of pay will be back dated for six months or longer if the pay negotiations continue beyond this period.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe Civil Service Union has been engaged in several separate and distinct pay negotiations which, under the terms of the Civil Service Pay Agreement, should have been completed by 30th June. In all but one of these a negotiated settlement had been reached, or a decision to arbitrate taken, by that date. In the case of the one exception I am pleased to say that agreement has now been reached.