§ Mr. Foxasked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average remuneration per salaried employee on the staff of the Road Transport Industry Training Board in the years 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78 in cash terms; and what annual percentage increase these represent.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI am informed by the board that the average annual salary paid to staff in the year ended 31st March 1975 was £2,945. Increases including those due in the three following years under the board's indexation agreement repre-76W sented year-on-year improvements of 27.5 per cent.—to £3,757—17.2 per cent.—to £4,403—and 16.9 per cent.—to £5,145—respectively. Payments actually made during phases 1 and 2 were restricted to the amounts payable under general incomes policy limits until it became known that the board was under a legal obligation to honour its indexation agreement when back payments which subsumed the increases already paid were made for the years 1975–76 and 1976–77 and are included in the figures above.
§ Mr. Foxasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action has been taken to bring the employees of the Road Transport Industry Training Board within the limits of incomes policy to counteract their index-linked pay agreement.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe Road Transport Industry Training Board's agreement which provides for index-linked salaries was in operation before Command 6151 took effect and in consequence its continued operation has not been precluded by pay policy. However, I am in discussion with the board on how the agreement may be brought to an end, as such agreements, particularly in the public sector, are not consonant with general Government policy.