HC Deb 02 July 1979 vol 969 cc399-400W
11. Mr. Trotter

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the current position on salary regulations for the professional and technology grades in the Civil Service; how far their grades have fallen behind comparable occupations in the public sector; and what proposals he has to settle the present industrial action.

Mr. Channon

I met a delegation from the Institution of Professional Civil Servants on Thursday 28 June and urged them to stop industrial action and to put their case before the independent Civil Service arbitration tribunal as speedily as possible. The offer already made, of between 15½ per cent. and 22½ per cent. depending on grade, would put these staff in the same relationship with outside comparable occupations as the rest of the Civil Service who have already accepted a settlement on this basis. The Government's view is that all civil servants should be treated exactly alike. If the IPCS does not accept our offer it should seek the opinion of the Civil Service arbitration tribunal on this matter. It is in the interests of its members, and the country, that it does so quickly, and I have consistently urged this course upon the institution.

Mr. John Hunt

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent meeting with the trade union representatives involved in the dispute over the printing of parliamentary papers, setting out in particular the specific matters in dispute and how it is intended they should be resolved.

Mr. Channon

I met a delegation from the Institution of Professional Civil Servants on Thursday 28 June and urged them to stop their totally unjustified industrial action and to put their case before the independent Civil Service arbitration tribunal. The staff concerned, members of the professional and technology group, have been offered increases of between 15½ per cent. and 22½ per cent. depending on grade. These amounts are calculated on exactly the same basis as those already agreed for all other grades in the Civil Service and are based on evidence from the pay research unit agreed with IPCS. The IPCS, however, seeks a settlement based on a higher relationship with outside rates. The Government take the view that all civil servants should be treated equally and fairly. If the IPCS cannot accept the offer it should quickly take its case to the CSAT, whose recommendations the Government will accept.