asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will give an immediate substantial increase in remuneration to clerical assistants, in view of the fact that their rates of pay (commencing rate £43 per week rising after 12 years to £59.71) have fallen seriously behind those in comparable employment; and if he will make a statement on the unfair position in which they now find themselves.
Written Answers. - Clerical Assistants' Pay.
279.
Claims for increases in the pay of the clerical assistant grade are dealt with through the agreed negotiating procedures of the civil service conciliation and arbitration scheme. Such a claim is at present being discussed at concilation. As conciliation discussions are, under the terms of the agreed scheme, confidential, it would not be appropriate for me to make any comment at this stage. I should mention, however, that should the parties fail to reach agreement regarding the claim, it is open to the Civil and Public Services Staff Association, which represents clerical assistants, to submit the claim to independent arbitration.
The present weekly pay scale of the grade is as follows: £43.78 — 45.45 — 46.42 — 47.47 — 48.55 — 49.67 — 50.76 — 51.87 — 52.96 — 54.10 — 55.24 — 57.19 — £59.21.