HC Deb 31 January 1978 vol 943 cc114-5W
44. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action she is taking to rectify the recognised pay anomalies effecting university teachers.

Mrs. Bain

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what precise steps she envisages as appropriate to honour the Government's pledge to rectify the university teachers' pay anomaly; and if she will make a statement on the current situation.

Mr. Charles Irving

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what precise steps she envisages as being appropriate to honour the Government's pledge of rectifying the pay anomaly of university teachers.

Mr. Oakes

I refer the hon. Members to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Members for Armagh (Mr. McCusker), Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Eyre), Surrey, North-West (Mr. Grylls) and Canterbury (Mr. Crouch) on 25th January—[Vol. 942, cols. 610–611.]

Mr. Charles Irving

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why productivity deals in fields such as insurance are being allowed immediate increases well over 10 per cent. although similar arrangements proposed by the Association of University Teachers have been discounted.

Mr. Oakes

The Government's pay policy as set out in the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation after 31st July 1977" (Cmnd 6882), allows for productivity agreements to be reached which are demonstrably self-financing.

Negotiations for a new pay settlement for university teachers are now in progress, and the hon. Member will not expect me to offer comment on any specific proposal.

Mrs. Bain

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations she has received in the last two months on the subject of university teachers' pay, giving a breakdown into representations from individuals and organisations.

Mr. Oakes

My right hon. Friend has received about 50 representations from organisations and about 350 from individuals.

Mrs. Bain

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what lessons she intends to draw from the pay settle-

Rates at 1st October 1974 1974 rates adjusted to October 1977 base by increase in retail price index Rates at 1st October 1976 Difference
£ £ £ £ Per cent.
Lecturer
Minimum … … 2,118 3,543 3,333 210 6.3
Maximum … … 4,896 8,191 6,655 1,536 23.1
Senior Lecturer
Minimum … … 4,707 7,875 6,443 1,432 22.2
Maximum … … 5,976 9,998 7,951 2,047 25.7
Professor
Minimum … … 6,105 10,214 8,106 2,108 26.0
Average … … 7,257 12,141 9,489 2,652 27.9