Institution of Professional Civil Servants

HC Deb 02 June 1980 vol 985 c506W

Mr. Ron Brown

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is satisfied that the Government are not breaking the Civil Service arbitration agreement by refusing to allow the Institution of Professional Civil Servants to go to arbitration on the 1980 professional and technical officer's pay award; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Channon

The Government pressed the Institution of Professional Civil Servants (IPCS) to go to arbitration on the professional and technical officers 1980 pay review if it was unable to accept the official side's offer. The IPCS declined to do so under the present chairman of the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal. Therefore the Government introduced a settlement by administrative action as being in the best interests of management and staff. This concluded the 1980 P&T pay review.

Not until after the introduction of the settlement did the IPCS officials indicate that they were willing to go to arbitration in accordance with the normal arrangements. There was, therefore, no breach of the Civil Service arbitration agreement.