asked the Minister for the Civil Service what consultations prompted his recommendation that salaries of certain civil servants should be increased by 7½ per cent. as announced in February, 1972.

The Central Pay Increase for certain civil servants announced on 3rd February, 1972, was a settlement arrived at after negotiations conducted within the normal Whitley Council framework.

While I am always the first to admit that competent and proficient people should be adequately and suitably rewarded, may I ask my hon. Friend to bear in mind that 7½ per cent. compound interest per annum is a deliberate provocation to miners, to railwaymen, to engineers and to other large bodies of organised workers to seek at least commensurate advances and that all this is highly damaging to the community?

I am glad that my hon. Friend is at least prepared to recognise the excellent worth of the work done by our public servants.

Very few.

The increase is very much in line with current and recent settlements. Indeed, the only exception is the highly exceptional increase for the miners.

Will the Minister not pay too much attention to his hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) and recognise that he is something of a special case?

A court case.

I do not approach this in a roundabout fashion. Will the Parliamentary Secretary further recognise that the need for this rise is very much underlined by the quite large numbers of civil servants who are at present having to apply for family income supplement?

My hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) is not easy to ignore. I agree with the hon. Member for Islington, East (Mr. John D. Grant) that this increase was arrived at in negotiations in the normal framework. It fairly reflects the situation and is not out of line with recent settlements outside the Civil Service.