asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the issue of the Metropolitan Police traffic wardens' pay, submitted by the Civil Service Union to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, will be referred to arbitration; and if he will make a statement.

I have told the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police that I should not be prepared to approve a stage 3 settlement for the London traffic wardens which broke their existing pay link with the provincial traffic wardens. He has therefore informed ACAS that he cannot agree to the dispute being referred to arbitration.