§ 41. Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the anomaly caused by the recent Whitley Council award in regard to the salaries of the nursing profession under which sisters may receive a higher salary than the matrons under whom they are serving; and whether he will take steps to remedy this anomaly.
§ 90. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to adjust the anomaly by which ward sisters are being paid more than matrons in Scottish hospitals.
Mr. McNeilAs I explained last week in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Colonel Gomme-Duncan), a claim for increased salaries for senior hospital nurses is at present before the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council. This claim includes matrons.
§ Mr. MacphersonWill the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the Government's White Paper on personal incomes will not be given as a reason for perpetuating this anomaly, as has taken place in the case of the public health nurses and domiciliary midwives?
Mr. McNeilI cannot, without notice, give such an assurance, but it must be plain that this claim is before the Whitley Council, and therefore no comment can appropriately be made by me.
Commander GalbraithWill the right hon. Gentleman took into the case of health visitors and particularly tuberculosis health visitors?
§ Mr. McGovernHas the Secretary of State any guarantee that both the hon. Members who have been asking questions about this will not, if my right hon. Friend puts the matter right, oppose the Supplementary Estimate in respect of it?