§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the increased shift premiums ranging from £9 to £20 a week paid to some 6,000 British Airways engineers and maintenance men is within the Government's wages policy; and whether such payments can be allowed to miners and others engaged on shift work.
§ Mr. John GrantNo payments have been made yet under the recently concluded agreement to increase the shift pay of British Airways maintenance engineers at Heathrow. I understand that British Airways intend to approach the Government for guidance about when pay policy will permit payments under the agreement to begin. The Government will then consider this case most carefully in the light of the policy described in the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation after 31st July 1977" (Cmnd. 6882), which attached the greatest importance to the maintenance of the 12 months rule. The Government expect that any increase in shift pay which may be negotiated for other groups whether in the private or the public sector, will conform strictly to pay policy.