HC Deb 13 April 1981 vol 3 cc70-1W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the reason for the practice of applying the same percentage figure of salary increase to all civil servants rather than different percentages to different groups; and how long the practice has existed.

Mr. Hayhoe

When pay research was operated, different percentage increases have applied to different groups of staff, according to the evidence of outside pay and conditions. The offer this year is based on strict cash limits and would provide for a general increase of 7 per cent. There has been no discussion with the unions of varying the distribution of this increase between different groups.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will seek to introduce a system whereby any person whose salary or income is paid in any way from public funds shall have the amounts paid publicly declared or made available on request to the taxpayer through his Member of Parliament.

Mr. Hayhoe

The salaries payable to the grades of staff in the public service for which the Minister for the Civil Service is responsible are publicly available.

Mr. Foulkes

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) how much money was saved by deducting one hour's pay from those civil servants who attended pay rallies in November of last year;

(2) whether she proposes to use the money saved by deducting pay from civil servants attending pay rallies in November 1980 to supplement the 6 per cent. cash limit for the 1981 pay round.

Mr. Hayhoe

Precise figures are not available centrally, but the total saved is estimated to be some £400,000. I do not propose to supplement the 6 per cent. cash limit for Civil Service pay increases in 1981–82. The Government's offer for the 1981 settlement is 7 per cent., to be financed from the cash limit by further savings in staff and other administrative expenditure.