Birmingham (Dispute) (Hansard, 11 November 1982)

§ Mr. Newton

In my reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 20 October 1982— [Vol. 29 c.163–4]—I gave the background to this dispute and referred to the talks between departmental and trade union officials which were taking place. Following intensive negotiations and meetings with Ministers, agreement was reached at departmental level on 26 October with the largest of the unions, the Civil and Public Services Association, but unfortunately agreement could not be reached with the other union involved, the Society of Civil and Public Servants.

The agreement balanced the willingness on the part of the Department to undertake an urgent and detailed joint review of the complementing system, including a special in-depth scrutiny of the problems of inner-city local offices, with an undertaking by the unions not to enforce their ban on the use of casuals and overtime or to interfere with the normal use of staff inspection; at the same time, temporary help would be given to the offices involved in the dispute and both sides would use their best endeavours to avoid further disputes connected with staffing, pending the completion of the joint complementing review. The CPSA recommended a return to work on the terms agreed, but the SCPS did not and at joint meetings of those on strike the terms of the agreement were rejected.

The dispute now involves all 11 local offices in Birmingham, but although the public counters are closed large numbers of staff are continuing to work in each of the offices and are maintaining the regular payments of

1982–83 and proposed 1983–84 contributions
	1982–83	Proposed 1983–84
Class 1
(earnings related contributions payable on all earnings up to the upper earnings limit providing the earnings reach the lower earnings limit)
Lower earnings limit (LEL)	£29.50 a week	£32.50 a week
Upper earnings limit (UEL)	£220 a week	£235 a week
Employee's rate
not contracted out	8.75 per cent.	9.0 per cent.
contracted out	8.75 per cent. to LEL	9.0 per cent. to LEL
	6.25 per cent. between LEL and UEL	6.85 per cent. between LEL and UEL
Employer's rate
not contracted out	†12.2 per cent.	^*11.95 per cent.
contracted out	†12.2 per cent. to LEL	^*11.95 per cent. to LEL
	†7.7 per cent. between LEL and UEL	^*7.85 per cent. between LEL and UEL
Reduced rate for certain married women and widows	3.2 per cent.	3.85 per cent.
Class 2
(self-employed—flat rate)	£3.75 a week	£4.40 a week
Small earnings exception where earnings are below	£1,600 a year	£1,775 a year
Class 4
(self-employed—profits related between annual profits limits)
Lower profit limit	£3,450 a year	£3,800 a year
Upper profit limit	£11,000 a year	£12,000 a year
Rate	6 per cent.	6.3 per cent.

262W

benefit by order books and giros. Four emergency centres have been opened in Birmingham to deal with new claims and cases of hardship. The unions have asked for a further meeting with departmental officials which has been agreed.