§ Mr. Raceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the national joint industrial council covering water industry manual workers will continue to operate following reorganisation of the water industry.
§ Mr. KingThe Water Bill provides for the dissolution of the National Water Council and the repeal of section 26(2) to (4) of the Water Act 1973. The effect would be to make inoperable all the existing national collective agreements for the pay and other terms and conditions of employment, including that establishing the NJIC for manual workers, because the National Water Council is a party to them. The Water Bill does not prescribe the future joint arrangements, but the Government have issued a consultation paper on the various matters that will need to be decided to ensure satisfactory future arrangements following the dissolution of the NWC.