§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in greater detail the criteria that he uses in assessing the validity of self-financing productivity schemes proposed by individual employers.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerCriteria relating to the introduction of self-financing productivity schemes in the current pay round were published in the July-August 1978 issue of "Employment News ". It is the responsibility of negotiators to ensure that the criteria are met, although my Department is happy to give guidance in cases of doubt.
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§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will publish figures to show the average level of wage increases paid in settlements which include self-financing productivity schemes introduced in pay settlements since 31st July 1977 ;
(2) what has been the average increase in productivity resulting from self-financing productivity schemes negotiated under the 1977–78 phase of incomes policy.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThis information is not available.
§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the Written Answer of the Chancellor of the Exchequer,Official Report, 24th October, column 898, how many officials in his Department are engaged in monitoring the progress of self-financing productivity schemes introduced as part of a pay settlement after 31st July 1977.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerApart from the public sector, which is primarily the responsibility of sponsoring Departments, 83 officials in my Department were at 1st December engaged in giving advice on, monitoring and vetting pay settlements of all kinds. It is not feasible to say what proportion of their time is devoted to monitoring the progress of self-financing productivity schemes.