§ Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration his Department has given to the findings of the Office of Manpower Economics in respect of the relative pay levels of civil servants in comparison with private sector equivalents; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe long-term pay agreements covering different civil service groups provide for pay negotiations to be informed at least once every four years by a survey of outside remuneration levels undertaken by the Office of Manpower Economics. The information in each levels survey is one of the factors which is taken into account during the subsequent negotiations.
§ Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to accept requests for arbitration from the National Union of Civil and Public Servants in respect of its 1991 pay claim; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe 1991 pay offer has been accepted by the NUCPS after a ballot of their membership produced a substantial vote in favour. In these circumstances, arbitration would clearly be inappropriate.