§ Mr, Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many wage settlements during the last three months have exceeded 10 per cent.
§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many pay settlements have been arrived at since he announced his current guidelines; how many have exceeded the guidelines in the public sector and in the private sector; and how many workers are involved in each.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerMy Department maintains comprehensive monitoring only of major settlements. During the last three months major settlements have been reached covering over half a million workers, mainly in the private sector. The great majority of these have observed the Government's pay policy.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient period of time, the number of occasions that he has taken action to prevent company directors, lawyers and other groups from receiving salary increases in excess of the Government's various wage and salary incomes programmes and policies; and with what results.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerSince the introduction of the £6 policy in July 1975 my right hon. Friend and his predecessor have constantly urged all concerned with determining pay of any kind to follow the Government's voluntary guidelines; we have vigorously followed up, with available back-up powers as necessary, any particular problems that have been drawn to attention. Where these involved the pay of groups such as those referred to in the Question they have generally been satisfactorily resolved. Fees charged by the self-employed are dealt with under the Price Code and are a matter for my right lion. Friend the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection.