asked the Minister for the Public Service (1) the estimated full year cost of special pay agreements (a) that have been negotiated, (b) that are in course of negotiation and (c) that are likely to arise directly from negotiation under (a) and (b) above, because of comparability or relativity claims; and (2) the amount payable in respect of these claims under the agreement announced some time ago (a) in 1983 and (b) in 1984.
Written Answers. - Special Pay Agreements.
398.
As regards 1 (a) the position is that the estimated full year cost to the Exchequer pay and pensions bill of special pay increases which have been implemented in 1982 is £8 million. This covers adjudication findings and negotiated settlements implemented in 1982.
As regards 1 (b), it is not possible, without detailed examination by Departments, to say what increases are in course of negotiations at any partucular date.
As regards 1(c), since in many cases the staff side put forward multiple arguments in support of their claims it is not possible without the expenditure of an inordinate amount of time to say what agreements or adjudications are likely to arise directly — and what indirectly — from negotiations under 1(a) and 1(b) because of comparability or relativity. The full year cost of all special increases which might have been expected to have arisen in the ordinary way up to end 1983 —whether on comparability grounds or otherwise—is estimated in round terms at £250 million. If the draft proposals for amending the Public Service Pay Agreement are implemented, the estimated additions to the annual pay bill in 1983 and 1984 — over and above the previous years figure in each case—in respect of these increases will be: 1983, £28 million —including £13 million in respect of increases deferred from 1982 — 1984, £65 million.
The draft proposals provide that the parties shall meet at the request of either side in 1983 to discuss certain specified aspects of special increases in the light of the then existing economic situation.