HC Deb 10 December 1980 vol 995 cc374-5W
19. Mr. Leighton

asked the Minister of Transport whether the proposed 6 per cent. limit on public sector wage increases will be applied to British Railway employees.

Mr. Fowler

Six per cent. is the limit of the Government allowance for the pay element for rate support grant for 1981–82. In their next pay settlement, due in April 1981, the board and the unions will need to have primary regard to what the railways can afford to pay in current conditions, bearing in mind the relevance of productivity to the financial strength of the railway.