§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the results of the offer he made to the Institution of Professional Civil Servants, and referred to in the House on 9 July, with a view to the settlement of its pay claim.
§ Mr. ChannonThe offers to which I referred in the House on 9 July were those for the science group and the professional and technology (P&T) group. The offer to scientists has been accepted by the Institution of Professional Civil Servants, but that for the P&T group has not. As a result of a meeting with my right hon. and noble friend and myself yesterday, the IPCS has called an end to actions affecting either House. However, some industrial action in support of the P&T claim is continuing though there can be no justification for such action when for784W over 50 years the agreed procedure has been recourse to the independent Civil Service arbitration tribunal. I have urged the institution to submit its case to the tribunal as speedily as possible.