asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on Government policy on wage levels.

Government policy on wages was outlined in my Financial Statement on 25 January.

In the course of that statement the Minister said he was making no provision for any increase in public service pay in the new round in 1984. Does that suggest the Minister envisages there will not be any increase, that the Government have set their face against an increase or does it mean that he expects there will be an increase but has not made provision for it in the budget at this time?

There is no provision in the Estimates or in the budget day provisions for any increase in pay in the public service in 1984 because the Government do not think it would be appropriate to have an increase in this year.

The Minister will be aware that other Ministers for Finance did not make specific provision in the budget arithmetic for public sector pay increases for fairly obvious reasons. However, that is not to say that they indicated there would not be any public service pay increase or that they would oppose any such increase. I am simply asking the Minister if he is indicating that the Government this year are taking a different position, that they will oppose any increases in public sector pay?

I am indicating there will be no increase in public service pay in 1984.

Will the Minister state if the Government have any policy on wage levels so far as the non-public sector is concerned?

Yes. In my Financial Statement I referred to what the Government believe is the appropriate approach to wage levels other than in the public service.