§ Mr. Rifkindasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the composition of the joint negotiating committee that determines local authority salaries in Scotland; and to what extent the Government are represented.
§ Mr. William RossThe Convention of Scottish Local Authorities appoints representatives of the local authorities, as the employers' side, on all the Scottish negotiating bodies; four of these represent Scottish local authorities on the National Joint Council for Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical Staffs, where the main salary negotiations for all local authority staff throughout Britain are conducted. All these bodies also include trade union representatives. Except in the case of the special committees responsible for salaries of teachers and police the Government are not represented.
§ Mr. Rifkindasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether increases in local authority salaries in Scotland, as recommended by the joint negotiating committee, would lead to an increase in the rate support grant; and, if so, to what extent.
§ Mr. William RossLocal authority salary increases agreed in the national negotiating machinery since the rate support grant for the current year was determined and prior to the publication of the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation" will, in accordance with normal practice, be taken into consideration for a rate support grant increase order, provided they are not in conflict with the arrangement set out in paragraph 8 of the White Paper. In the current year the rate of grant is 75 per cent. of reckonable expenditure.
§ Mr. Rifkindasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what power he has to prevent the implementation of the salary increases for senior Scottish local authority officials recommended by the joint negotiating committee.
§ Mr. William RossNone.