§ 13. Mr. John Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he is considering to follow current wage restraint; and what lessons he has learnt from the operation of the present policy.
§ Mr. FootAs already made clear, the Government will continue to work closely with the TUC, the CBI and all concerned on a continuing programme of policies to control domestic inflation and prevent its resurgence. The satisfactory operation of the present pay policy to date underlines the importance of proceeding in such matters on a basis of voluntary agreement.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report those settlements which have been reached since 1st August 1975, which have agreed pay increases of less than the full £6 a week allowed under the present counter-inflation policy; and if he will state 505W these as a proportion of all settlements since 1st August 1975.
§ Mr. FootSome 200,000 or 10 per cent. of workers covered by major settlements known to my Department since 1st August obtained increases of less than £6 a week or its equivalent for juveniles and part-timers. Half of this number were covered by one settlement giving increases of £5.20 and the rest obtained smaller increases. I do not think it would be helpful to identify particular settlements, some of which are notified to my Department on a confidential basis. Apart from this, some 500 workers are covered by Wages Council proposals for increases in statutory minimum remuneration of significantly less than £6 a week while some ¾ million are covered by proposals for increases at or just below £6.