Written question asked by Austin Mitchell (Labour) on Wednesday, 22 July 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 28 July 1998. It was answered by Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke (Labour) on Tuesday, 28 July 1998 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 July 1998, Official Report, 315 c669W, what assessment he has made of the effect of current headline RPI inflation on wages and salary negotiations.

Answer: Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 July 1998, Official Report, column 669, what assessment he has made of the effect of current headline RPI inflation on wages and salary negotiations. [52548] Mrs. Liddell: It is up to individual companies to negotiate with their workforce over remuneration and the level of inflation should be only one of a number of factors in any individual settlement. The Government have repeatedly stated the importance of pay in the public and private sectors being related to what the economy can afford.

Secondary information