asked the Minister for the Environment the terms of any directions issued to local authorities prohibiting them from making any offer to trade unions which would correct agreed relativities and in particular the provisions of Direction No. 3/1979.
Written Answers. - Directions to Local Authorities.
482.
No directions in the specified terms referred to in the question have been issued to local authorities by my Department. Since July 1975 local authorities have been advised in circular letters issued by the Department not to make offers on foot of claims for special pay increases without prior consultation with the Department. The following are relevant extracts from the circular letters referred to:—
EL 38/75 of 4 July 1975
"The Minister for Local Government now requests you to ensure that pending the outcome of the discussions referred to in the statement and until further notice, the local authorities for which you are responsible make no special improvement in the pay or conditions of any of their staff irrespective of grade except in accordance with a finding already made—or to be made shortly in a case where the hearing has been completed by (a) the Labour Court itself or (b) an appropriate arbitration board or (c) where at conciliation there has already been a firm and unconditional offer not related to changes in the employment concerned.
Offers which have not received the Minister's sanction and/or relate to changes in work practice, output, grading structures or similar matters should not be regarded as `firm and unconditional'."
EL 48/75 of 3 September 1975
"It should be noted that consequent on this Department's Circular Letter EL 38/75 to 4 July, 1975 no special improvements in pay or conditions should be made and that the general sanction accorded in Circular Letter EL 76/50 of 23 December, 1950 has been withdrawn."
EL 51/75 of 13 October 1975
"In the meantime, and pending the outcome of these discussions, the position remains unchanged for the present. This means, in effect, that there should be no offer or acceptance at any stage of a claim without the prior agreement of the Department."
Letter of 9 January 1976 from Minister for Local Government to City and County Managers
"In any event, the requirements indicated in this Department's Circular Letter EL 51/75 of 13 October 1975, that no offers be made at any stage without the prior approval of my Department, still stands."
EL 5/76 of 5 March 1976
"This circular letter relates only to the basic increases under Clause 3 of the National Agreement and does not affect in any way the present position in relation to other increases."
EL 16/76 of 1 June 1976
"This circular letter relates only to the basic increases under Clause 3 (f) of the National Agreement 1974 and does not affect in any way the present position in relation to other increases."
EL 32/76 of 28 September 1976
"This circular letter relates only to the basic increases under Clause 3 of the Interim Agreement and does not affect in any way directives et cetera issued in relation to other improvements in pay or conditions.”
Letter of 10 November 1976 from Minister for Local Government to City and County Managers
"Accordingly no offers whether provisional or not should be made without prior consultation with and clearance by my Department."
EL 5/77 of 8 March 1977
"I am to add that the question of claims for special increases and improvements in conditions over and above the standard pay increases of the National Agreements is under consideration in the light of the Employer-Trade Union National Agreement 1977. Pending the outcome of this consideration and the issue of such further Ministerial instructions as may be necessary, I am directed to state that the constraints set out in the Minister's letter of 9 January 1976, continue to apply."
EL 8/77 of 28 March 1977
"This Circular Letter relates only to the basic increases under the first phase of Clause 3 of the Agreement and does not affect in any way directives et cetera issued in relation to other improvements in pay or conditions.”
EL 20/77 of 19 August 1977
"It should be noted that the position as set out in paragraph 7 of the Department's Circular Letter EL 8/77 dated 28 March 1977, remains unchanged."
EL 31/77 of 21 October 1977
"This circular letter relates only to the basic increases under Clause 3 of the National Agreement and does not affect in any way the present position in relation to other increases."
Letter of 4 January 1978 from the Minister for the Environment to City and County Managers
"Accordingly I would ask you to ensure that local authorities under your management in their approach to pay claims will continue to adhere to the General Government Guidelines already conveyed to you involving full consultation with my Department."
EL 4/89 of 21 April 1978
"This Circular Letter relates only to the basic increases under Clause 3 of the National Agreement and does not affect in any way the present position in relation to other increases."
EL 26/78 of 29 December 1978
"Local authorities are reminded that where claims are made for special increases and improvements in conditions over and above the standard increases in the Employer-Trade Union National Agreement 1978, no offer should be made at any stage without prior consultation with the Department."
EL 3/79 of 27 February 1979
"The general sanction in this circular letter relates to the basic increases under the National Agreement. Local authorities are reminded that where claims are made for special increases and improvements, no offer should be made at any stage without prior consultation with the Department."
EL 15/79 of 13 August 1979
"The general sanction in this Circular Letter relates to the basic increases under the Agreement. Local Authorities are reminded that in accordance with standing practice where claims are made for special increases and improvements, no offers or commitments should be made at any stage without prior consultation with the Department."
EL 16/79 of 29 August 1979
"The general sanction in this circular letter relates to the basic increases under the Agreement. Local authorities are reminded that, in accordance with standing practice, where claims are made for special increases and improvements, no offers or commitments should be made at any stage without prior consultation with the Department."