HC Deb 04 May 1950 vol 474 cc1882-4
29. Brigadier Rayner

asked the Minister of Health when he will be able to announce the new rates of pay for hospital nursing staffs above the rank of ward sister.

Mr. Bevan

I have not yet received the Whitley Council's report.

Brigadier Rayner

In view of the situation obtaining whereby matrons, assistant matrons and sister tutors are getting a great deal less salary than junior ward sisters, will the Minister try to hurry this matter up?

Mr. Bevan

I think that the Whitley Council is about to approach a final consideration of this matter.

31. Air-Commodore Harvey

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider bringing the salaries paid to Queen's District Nurses into line with salaries paid to nurses in hospital.

8. Mr. Poole

asked the Minister of Health what disparities in salaries and conditions exist between hospital nurses and members of the home nursing service under the Health Scheme; if he is aware that the continued operation of the home nursing service in Birmingham is threatened by the alleged injustices under which home nurses work; and if he will make a statement.

92. Mr. Murray

asked the Minister of Health whether the case for increased salaries, for public health nurses, domiciliary nurses and midwives has been heard by the Industrial Court; whether such court have reported their findings; and, if they have not already done so. will he use his good offices to speed up the same in view of the fact there is great public interest in this matter.

99. Sir Ian Fraser

asked the Minister of Health if he can now say what proposals he has to adjust the salaries of district nurses and other external nurses to conform to the recent increases in the emoluments for internal nurses.

104. Mr. Driberg

asked the Minister of Health if he has now received the decision of the Industrial Court on the claim by domiciliary midwives and public health nurses that their salaries should still be related to those of nurses employed in hospitals; and if, in view of the importance of the work done by these midwives and nurses, especially in isolated rural dwellings, he will expedite the necessary salary adjustments.

107. Miss Burton

asked the Minister of Health if he is now in a position to announce the decision of the Industrial Court on the salaries of midwives and health visitors referred to the court for arbitration and discussed on 24th April last.

113. Major H. Johnson

asked the Minister of Health when he will be in a position to announce the new rates of pay for fully-trained district nurses, Queen's nurses, district nurse-midwives, health visitors and school nurses.

Mr. Bevan

I understand that the Industrial Court has just made its award on the salaries of public health nurses and domiciliary nurses and midwives, and copies will be available in a day or two.

Mr. Pickthorn

I did not catch the last few syllables of the right hon. Gentleman's reply.

Mr. Bevan

I said that copies will be available in a day or two.

Mr. Driberg

Does my right hon. Friend himself know the terms of the award, and, if so, would he be good enough to say whether those of us who put down these Questions will regard them as satisfactory?

Mr. Bevan

I have not the full terms of the award before me at the moment.