HC Deb 06 July 1981 vol 8 c5W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his statement to the Birmingham chamber of commerce on Friday 26 June on a 4½ per cent. wage and salary target will be applied by the Government to the pay of judges, peers, admirals, air marshals, generals, police and top civil servants.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

My speech to the Birmingham chamber of commerce on 26 June drew attention to the fact if we are to see output and employment grow, we must have pay settlements in both the public and private sectors which are considerably lower than we have had in the current pay round. No doubt the various review bodies will take account of the economic situation when formulating their proposals.