§ Mr. Litherlandasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) why he has not yet made an offer to the Association of University Teachers and the university authorities panel in relation to the pay settlement for university staff due on 1 October; and when he expects to do so;
(2) if he will seek to ensure that the offer to be made to the negotiating parties in the university teachers' pay negotiations will be no less favourable than the settlements made with other parts of the public service who have had staged increases to compensate them for their fall in salaries, having regard to his delay in making an offer.
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why an offer has not yet been made to the negotiating parties over the university lecturers' salary claim in the light of the assurance given by his Department on 9 August; and when his Department is likely to take action on the matter.
§ Dr. BoysonThe university teachers' salary claim has to be considered in the light of the Government's general plans for public expenditure and the cash limits for universities. A meeting of the negotiating committee has been arranged for 3 December. I cannot forecast the outcome of the negotiations.