HC Deb 24 January 1978 vol 942 cc563-4W
Mr. Kilfedder

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will adopt the same approach to the question of upgrading the salaries of university teachers as that adopted in relation to the firemen.

Mr. Oakes

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 17th January.—[Vol. 942, c.177.]

Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the provisions in the Government White Paper "The Attack against Inflation" which allow for the gradual rectification of pay anomalies, will be applied in the current negotiations with the university teachers.

Mr. Carson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will permit the principle of staged rectification of anomalies embodied in the Govern ment's White Paper to be applied to the negotiations which are taking place at present on university teachers' pay.

Mr. Oakes

The White Paper (Cmnd. 6882) statedOnly the most serious difficulties can be tackled in the coming year, if necessary on a phased basis and taking full account of the need to keep the total settlement within single figures.

It remains to be determined by negotiation whether a tangible contribution towards rectifying the university teachers' pay anomaly can be found within the constraints of the current phase of pay policy.