§ 15. Dr. Broughtonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has not raised the salaries of Civil Service medical officers to conform with the increase in remuneration granted to general medical practitioners under the Danckwerts award.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 2nd July, 1952, to the effect that Mr. Justice Danckwerts' award was confined solely to the remuneration of general practitioners in the National Health Service and had no wider application.
§ Dr. BroughtonYes, but does not the Financial Secretary agree that these medical officers, who perform their responsible duties very efficiently, have been affected, like everyone else, by the rise in the cost of living? Will he not reconsider the question of revising their salary scales to bring them into line with their professional colleagues who are practising in other branches of medicine?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNaturally the salaries of Government servants are kept under constant review, but the hon. Member will no doubt appreciate that the present scale of salaries of these officers is that which was recommended by the Howett Committee, which reported as recently as 31st August, 1951.