Thank you, Madam Speaker, good afternoon. Good morning, I beg your pardon, I always get that wrong on Fridays, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Brian Lewis on October 12, 1994 concerning merit increases.

Zero per cent increases and not salary freezes were negotiated for the teachers and put in place for excluded employees. Madam Speaker, this means that current salary schedules will be maintained for these groups of employees. Merit increases will continue to be awarded as they have been in the past.

Madam Speaker, the average merit increase for government employees is 3.8 per cent. This is an important point which is often omitted when discussing zero per cent negotiated increases. Many other governments have imposed freezes to both salary schedules and merit increases.

I have a second return, Madam Speaker, if I might.