§ 39. Mr. Charles R. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the operation of employees, pension and long-service schemes operated by individual companies in the light of the recent practice of some companies suspending payment during industrial disputes in which the company is involved.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe right of an employer to suspend payment during an industrial dispute will depend on individual contracts of employment or relevant collective agreements. I understand that in some 90 per cent. of occupational pension schemes, the pensions are based on final salary arrangements, and are unlikely to be affected by non-payment of contributions during an industrial dispute.