asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that because of inadequate funding a number of local authorities have introduced lay-offs or short-time working involving loss of pay and pensionable service for regular pensionable employees; if it is his intention to authorise the reckoning of these periods of lay-offs as pensionable service and if any arrangements have been made by his Department to condition grants for local authorities for the early planning of work programmes and consultations with trade unions so that revenues can be managed with a view to eliminating unemployment, short-time working and lay-offs.
Written Answers. - Local Authority Employees.
210.
I am keenly aware of local authorities' financial position. Major steps have been taken to deal with the matter. An extra £31.5 million was provided through the rates support grants in the current year in addition to the amounts shown in the Public Service Estimates for 1983 published in November 1982. Also for the first time since 1978 local authorities were free in 1983 to strike whatever rate they wished.
Thirdly, the enactment of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) (No. 2) Act, 1983, greatly extended the powers of local authorities to supplement their own resources giving them wider scope to charge for services.
However, I am aware that there have been lay-offs and short-time working in a small number of local authorities. Even in those authorities where such measures have had to be introduced, I understand that every effort has been made to ensure as little disruption as possible to the services of permanent and pensionable employees.
With regard to the matter of pensionable service, the reckoning of unpaid absences for superannuation purposes is precluded by statute. The rule is of general application in the public service.
I am anxious that available revenue be so managed as to minimise unemployment, short-time and lay-offs. While I am satisfied that local authorities are making every effort in this regard, I will remind them of the necessity for adopting this approach when grants are being allocated in 1984.