asked the Minister for Finance the estimated amount of increases in public service pay which will arise in the year 1988 by virtue of incremental pay increases for public servants; and the percentage of the estimated total increase in public service pay which will be accounted for by such incremental increases.

The Exchequer Pay and Pensions Bill for 1988 includes approximately £28 million in respect of the cost of incremental pay increases. The Deputy will be aware from the press statement issued by the Government on 13 October last to accompany the publication of the 1988 Abridged Estimates Volume that the Exchequer Pay and Pensions Bill is expected to be £2,833 million in 1988. As this figure is also the expected outturn in 1987, no increase in the total Bill is anticipated.

Can the Minister inform the House of the amount of incremental pay increases relative to the whole amount, in percentage terms?

It is very easy to work that out; £28 million as a percentage of £2,800 million, 1 per cent.