§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Ford's have broken the terms of the voluntary pay code; whether sanctions are being applied to them; and if not, why not.
§ Mr. HealeyAs the Government have previously made clear, we regret the Ford settlement; but after consideration it has been decided that there is no discretionary action which would be appropriate in this case.
§ 60. Mr. Willeyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply he has given to the request of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions to discuss wages settlements in the shipbuilding industry.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettMy hon. Friend, the Minister of State, Department of Industry, saw representatives of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions on 21st November.
§ 61. Mr. Pattieasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the level of public sector wage settlements.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettThe representations I have received have reflected mainly the general public support for the Government's guidelines and equal treatment of the public and private sectors.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list those firms that voluntarily renegotiate pay settlements under the threat of sanction by imposition of the Government;
(2) what criteria he applies when deciding whether or not to apply sanctions to firms known to him to have broken the voluntary pay code;
(3) if he will list those firms that are known to have broken the voluntary pay code and have not been subject to sanctions.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettTo publish information about past or present consideration of the possibility of withholding discretionary assistance is not likely to be helpful in persuading firms to renegotiate settlements which are in breach of the 323W pay guidelines. The use of discretionary powers is in accordance with paragraph 16 of Cmnd. 6882.