asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether, in the light of the Government having granted salary increases of 43 per cent, to certain of the higher paid civil servants, he will give the reasons why he will not issue a general direction to the Gas Council to grant a similar wage and salary award to all gas industry employees;
(2) whether, in the light of the Government having granted salary increases of 43 per cent, to certain of the higher paid civil servants, he will give the reasons why he will not issue a general direction to the Electricity Council to grant a similar wage and salary award to all electricity workers;
(3) whether he will give a general direction to the British Overseas Airways Corporation to grant 40 per cent, pay rises to their staff who have applied for them, in the light of the Government's action in granting 43 per cent, rises to certain higher-paid civil servants.
No. I do not consider the pay of higher civil servants is of relevance to these negotiations.