§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the implications for his Department of the pay dispute between the Government and their industrial civil servants.
§ Lord BalnielThe great majority of Ministry of Defence employees have continued to work normally, but from 26th June to the week ended 6th October there was industrial action over pay at the Royal Dockyards and at a number of other establishments. This ranged from bans on overtime to withdrawal of labour, and in duration from a single day to periods of some weeks.
Service requirements have been affected particularly in the Royal Navy, but the penalties have been kept to a minimum by careful planning. I am glad that the trade unions' acceptance of arbitration has been followed by a return to normal working.