§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether, in order to provide guidance to negotiators, he will list recent pay settlements which exceed the terms of the social contract, and which exceed the maximum percentage increase in the national average level of earnings tolerable if the rate of inflation is to be reduced to 10 per cent. by the end of next year, according to the target set by the Chancellor of the Exchequer;
(2) whether, in order to provide guidance to negotiators, he will list examples of those recent pay settlements which meet the terms of the social contract, and which fall within the maximum tolerable percentage increase in national earnings required to reduce the rate of inflation to 10 per cent. by the end of next year, according to the target set by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. BoothGuidance to negotiators is set out in the TUC General Council's report on "Collective Bargaining and the Social Contract". On the question of the publication of pay settlements, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Chingford (Mr. Tebbit) on 4th November—[Vol. 880, c.74.]