§ 19. Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the recently announced pay negotiations for civil servants are within the guidelines of the social contract.
§ Mr. FootThis is a 26 per cent. settlement at an annual rate, including threshold payments already received. When account is taken of the once-for-all changes under the 1974 Pay Agreement to bring the pay research system up to date, the settlement is consistent with the social contract.
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§ 20. Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make it his practice to make his views known on inflationary wage claims before the negotiations are completed rather than after.
§ Mr. FootNo. The Government have repeatedly stressed the need for adherence to the pay guidelines and expect negotiators to take them into account in formulating wage claims, but I do not believe that Government pronouncement on each individual claim while negotiations are in progress would be helpful either in preventing disputes or in curbing inflation.
§ 26. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he continues to be satisfied with the working of the social contract; and if any representations have been made for an alternative arrangement.
§ Mr. FootI would refer my hon. Friend to what I said in reply to a similar Question a little earlier. As far as representations about an alternative to the social contract are concerned, there has been no shortage of criticism both malicious and otherwise but constructive suggestions have been less evident and insistent.