§ Mr. Ray PowellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in setting up salaries and terms of negotiating machinery for manual, white collar and senior staff in the nine months since the creation of the National Rivers Authority.
§ Mr. HowardThe National Rivers Authority's arrangements for pay negotiation with its employees are entirely a matter for the management of the authority, as an independent body.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times the chairman of the National Rivers Authority has met the recognised trade unions since the National Rivers Authority came into formal existence; and what information he has on the chairman's plans for any future meetings with the trade unions.
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 12 December 1989]: Negotiations with staff—including dealings with trade unions—are a matter for the management of the National Rivers Authority, as an independent body.