asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will state in relation to the Government's White Paper The Way Forward which was published on Thursday, 21 October 1982 whether the 5 per cent increase in public sector pay expenditure envisaged for 1983 will occur on top of the carry-over effects from 1982 and the £60 million pay increase allocation already negotiated for 1983 between the Government and the public service trade unions.
Written Answers. - The Way Forward White Paper.
399.
The Way Forward stated as follows in paragraph 9 of Chapter III:
Excluding carry-over effects from 1982, the Exchequer pay bill will have to be contained to an average growth rate of 5 per cent a year to 1986 inclusive of general and special pay increases.
It will be noted that no specific commitment was made in relation to 1983. The 5 per cent related to an annual average for the period to 1986.
It is incorrect to speak of a £60 million pay increase allocation having been already negotiated between the Government and the public service trade unions. The position is that draft proposals arrived at between representatives of the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and myself for amending the Public Service Pay Agreement are at present being considered by the trade unions concerned who will, I understand, make their response at a meeting of the Public Services Committee on 10 November 1982.
The estimated cost in 1983 of the proposals under consideration by the public service trade unions contains a significant element in respect of special increases payable from 1 October 1983. This element would be subsumed in such growth during 1983 of the Exchequer Pay Bill as is consistent with the average growth rate to 1986 as envisaged in the Government's document.
400.
asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will provide in relation to the Government's White Paper The Way Forward which was published on Thursday, 21 October 1982 a breakdown by group and by amount of the special pay increases awarded between 1979 and 1981 which amounted in total to £400 million in 1982.
I regret that because the time available was so short I am not in a position to furnish the information in the manner requested by the Deputy. The following are the estimated additional costs to the Exchequer pay and pensions bill of special pay increases (including arrears) in each of the three years mentioned:
|
£m |
|
|
1979 |
110 |
|
1980 |
150 |
|
1981 |
109 |
|
Total |
369 |
The estimated cost in 1982 of these increases is almost £400 million when account is taken of the cumulative effects thereon of general pay increases in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982.
Question No. 401 withdrawn.
Questions Nos. 402 and 403 postponed.