§ Mr. Pollockasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the grades of pay applicable in April 1979 and April 1981 to the following posts within the Civil Service (a) depute clerks of justiciary, (b) sheriff clerks, (c) cleaners in sheriff houses and (d) nightwatchmen in sheriff court houses.
§ Mr. RifkindThe information is set out in the following table:
compensation as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
215W(2) what is the average delay in payments to dentists as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what is the average delay in the payment of farm outgoers as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if he will list in the Official Report the payments being made on time through the use of the Scottish Office computer and those that are delayed as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(5) what has been the average delay in the payment of salaries and subsistence to Scottish Office Ministers as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(6) what is the average delay in making payments to students in receipt of grants from the Scottish Education Department as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(7) what is the average delay in making payments to suppliers to the prison service in Scotland as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(8) what is the average delay in making payments to contractors holding accounts with the Scottish Office as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(9) what is the average delay in making payments to organisations receiving grants or other financial assistance from the Scottish Office as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(10) what is the average delay in making payments to farmers in receipt of grants or subsidies as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(11) what is the average delay in making payments to crofters in receipt of grants or subsidies as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(12) what is the average delay in making payments to retired teachers in Scotland as a result of the present dispute between the Government and the Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(13) what is the average delay in making payments to deceased teachers' dependants in Scotland as a result of the present dispute between the Government and the Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(14) what is the average delay in making payments to retired National Health Service employees in Scotland as a result of the present dispute between the Government and the Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(15) what is the average delay in making payments to deceased National Health Service employees' dependants in Scotland as a result of the present dispute between the Government and the Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(16) what is the average delay in making payments to ex-teachers in Scotland entitled to return of superannuation contributions as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(17) what is the average delay in making payments to ex-National Health Service employees in Scotland entitled 216W to return of superannuation contributions as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YoungerThe payments that are being made on time or with only slight delay through the use of the Scottish Office computer are those to
Retired teachersDeceased teachers' dependantsFarm outgoers.Scottish Office salaries and wages, including those of Scottish Office Ministers, and the salaries and wages of staff in certain other Government Departments are also continuing to be paid.
Payments of NHS pensions and payments to dependants of deceased NHS employees are also continuing, except for new claims.
Schemes of payments normally made by the Scottish Office computer which are being delayed are those to
Former staff of colleges of education receiving compensation DentistsStudents in receipt of grants from the Scottish Education DepartmentFarmers in receipt of grants or subsidiesCrofters in receipt of grants or subsidiesEx-teachers in Scotland entitled to return of superannuation contributionsEx-National Health Service employees in Scotland entitled to return of superannuation contributionsTravel and subsistence payments to Scottish Office Ministers and civil servants and certain payments to contractors, including suppliers to the prison service, are also being delayed. A small proportion of the payments in respect of these schemes continues to be made manually. Payments not normally made by computer are being made in the usual way.
The length of the delay to which payments are subject will depend on the duration of the present industrial dispute. I regret very much the inconvenience which is being caused to firms and individuals by this industrial action.
§ Mr. Harry Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what arrangements he has for an early meeting with Civil Service unions representing Scottish Office staff to discuss the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many times he has met representatives of Civil Service unions representing Scottish Office staff since the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions began; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YoungerI am always ready to meet Scottish Office trade unions should the circumstances warrant it. The Scottish Office trade unions have had many meetings with management since the dispute began but they have not sought a meeting with me about the dispute. The present dispute on pay is a matter for discussion and resolution at national level with the Council of Civil Service Unions, and my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord President has made it clear that he is ready to meet it for further discussions about the proposals he put to it on 23 April, which in the Government's view offer a real basis for ending the present dispute.