§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Prime Minister why a 6 per cent. pay offer was made to the Civil Service; what was the rate of inflation at the time of the offer; if any difference represents changes in productivity; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterThe offer, which is a final one, followed negotiations with the unions concerned in the light of a survey of non-manual pay settlements in the private sector in 1985 conducted by the Office of Manpower Economics. It was made on 28 April, at which time the latest published retail prices index showed an annual increase of 4.2 per cent.