HC Deb 26 March 1974 vol 871 cc95-6W
Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now authorise payment of the 70p cost of living threshold payment agreed last autumn by the trade unions and the Hawick Knitwear Manufacturers which was disallowed by the Pay Board.

Mr. Booth

No. Until the existing legislation can be repealed, the Pay Board will continue to enforce the code and my right hon. Friend has no powers under the terms of the existing legislation to issue consents to pay increases which are not consistent with the Pay Code save in cases where the circumstances are truly exceptional, as in the miners' case.