§ Mr. JannerTo ask the right hon. member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the pay of House of Commons catering staff. [594]
§ Mr BeithUntil this year, the pay rates for staff in the Refreshment Department—RD—catering grades were linked to the rates negotiated between the Treasury and the National Union of Civil and Public Servants, now Public Services, Tax and Commerce. With the introduction of "delegated pay", the Treasury no longer negotiates national pay agreements and the House now has direct responsibility for negotiating the pay rates of all staff, subject to the statutory requirement to keep the pay and conditions of service broadly in line with the civil service.
A pay increase of 3 per cent. has been negotiated with the unions representing staff of the House in grade 8 and below, to take effect from 1 April 1996. An offer of a 4 per cent. increase in basic pay rates, with no change in the rates paid for overtime, has been put to the unions representing the RD catering grades. Bearing in mind the retention of the existing rates of pay for overtime, this pay offer is very close to the 3 per cent. increase already paid to other staff of the House and is broadly in line with this year's pay settlements in the civil service.