HC Deb 18 January 1977 vol 924 cc119-20W
Mr. Hayhoe

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the number of workers covered by pay agreements made during 1976 which were outside the limits of the Government's pay policy.

Mr. Harold Walker

As has previously been explained, my Department maintains comprehensive monitoring only of major settlements. All of these have conformed to the pay limits both during the £6 policy and under the current policy.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the cost of consolidation of pay awards made under the White Papers: (a) "Attack on Inflation" (Command Paper No. 6151) and (b) "Attack on Inflation—Second Year" (Command Paper No. 6507).

Mr. Harold Walker

The cost of consolidating into basic rates, supplements awarded within the limits set out in Cmnd. 6151 and Cmnd. 6507 would depend upon the numbers who received such supplements, the size of the supplements, the way in which consolidation was carried out, the effect of this on earnings, and any consequential effect on pay structures; these factors would vary widely between particular cases. On illustrative assumptions that for all employees sums equal to the combined maximum supplements for each period were added to basic rates, with proportionate increase in the earnings in each case but no other adjustments, the average cost would be between 2 and 3 per cent.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent the real value of holiday pay, overtime pay and shift pay dropped due to non-consolidation of awards made during the year of the £6 pay limit.

Mr. Harold Walker

Whether the real value would have been higher or lower would depend on the level of awards had they been in consolidated form and the differential effect on prices, which cannot readily be estimated.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will receive a deputation seeking classification of the pay guidelines as they apply to the disputed pay between AEU (TASS) and Hopkinson of Huddersfield.

Mr. Harold Walker

My officials have already given advice on the pay guidelines to the parties in this dispute. I would, of course, consider any requests for further discussions.