asked the Minister for Finance the reason he is unable to give the cost in 1988 in respect of each Vote, of the October 1987 draft agreement on pay in the public service in view of his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 10 November 1987 in which he said that it is not currently available in view of the fact that these costings were previously given by the Minister for Education in respect of Education Votes in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 47 of 3 November 1987; and if he will now make the relevant information available.
Written Answers. - Draft Agreement on Pay.
57.
As regards Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 10 November 1987, the Deputy had originally asked each Minister separately for costings of the draft agreement on pay in the public service. While some Ministers might have been in a position to provide an answer in relation to their Votes — as in the case of the Minister for Education — others would have had major difficulties in compiling an accurate reply. For this reason it was decided that the question should be dealt with on a global basis.
The 1987 draft agreement on pay in the public service involves two different percentages and a "floor". The complexity of the increase makes the calculation of the precise costs involved more difficult than usual; I am satisfied, however, that the figure of £70 million is reasonably accurate for the total cost for the Exchequer pay and pensions bill. Difficulties also arise in relation to the effects on individual Votes of the proposed reduction in public service numbers and the redeployment of staff.
I hope to be in a position early in the New Year to supply the Deputy with the information he has requested.