33.
asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he expects next to meet representatives of the Civil Service trade unions.
43.
asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he will next be meeting the staff side representatives of the Whitley Council.
I am in frequent contact with representatives of the Civil Service trade unions and the staff side of the National Whitley Council.
Bearing in mind that only a few months ago the Government approved an average 31 per cent. salary increase for certain top public officials—namely, Army officers, judges, chairmen of national industries and others covered by the Boyle report—does my right hon. Friend accept that it would be only fair to give a firm commitment to the Civil Service trade unions that the Government will accept the findings of the Civil Service Pay Research Unit instead of try- ing rigidly to impose a miserable 5 per cent. limit on the thousands of ordinary workers in the Civil Service who make up the backbone of our public services?
I shall give consideration to my hon. Friend's point. As for civil servants' pay, we are awaiting the report of the reactivated Pay Research Unit, which is expected within the next few weeks. That will provide evidence for a pay settlement with an effective date from 1st April 1979.
When the Minister next meets the Civil Service trade unions, will he take into account the very strong local and other opposition of the trade unions and others to the proposal to disperse Ministry of Defence personnel from the Bath area to Glasgow? Will he recognise that this will lead to higher costs, loss of efficiency and great personal inconvenience?
I do not accept all the suggestions made in the hon. Gentleman's question but will certainly give consideration to the attitude of the staff when the dispersal package from MOD is presented to the Civil Service Department.