§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to implement the pay settlement reached on 29 July by the Whitley Council for the staffs of Industrial Estates Corporation and development agencies; what is the reason for the delay by his Department in implementing the pay settlement in Wales; how many employees of the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales are affected by this non-implementation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe Government have accepted the 7½ per cent. pay increase proposed. The delay in payment has arisen because the employers' side of the Whitley Council, before implementing the new salary scales, is seeking the Government's agreement to a package of measures concerning restructuring, grading and annual leave.
My Department, along with the other sponsor Departments—Department of Industry and Scottish Economic Planning Department—together with the Civil Service Department, is still considering the package.
The numbers of staff concerned by the pay proposals in the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales are 310 and 52 respectively.