HC Deb 03 August 1976 vol 916 cc676-7W
Mr. Tim Renton

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the expected increase, in absolute and in percentage terms, in civil servants' salaries during the fiscal year 1976–77; and how much of this increase is expected to be due to pay rises and how much to annual increments.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

In the financial year 1976–77 the main settlement for non-industrial civil servants was implemented from 1st April 1976. This gave a £6 pay supplement to those earning less than £8,500, according to the terms of the Government's counter-inflation policy. The cost of the settlement was estimated as £171 million. Payment of the supplement represented an average addition to pay of 9.8 per cent. for those eligible. It is not anticipated that the continued payment of increments will involve extra cost on the salary bill in this period, but the Government will ensure that the effect is monitored and the agreed pay limits observed.

Mr. Tim Renton

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the total increase, in absolute and in percentage terms, in the salaries of civil servants during the fiscal year 1975–76; and how much of this increase was due to pay rises and how much to annual increments.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

In the financial year 1975–76 the main settlement for non-industrial civil servants was a pay research settlement implemented from 1st April 1975. The basic pay bill for the grades covered by this settlement was increased by £372 million over that following their previous settlement from 1st January 1974. This represented an increase of 26 per cent. in annual terms. There was a further increase for non-industrial civil servants working in London only, due to London weighting increase costing £6.5 million implemented from 1st July 1975. The payment of increments during this period did not increase the annual salary bill.