§ 24. Sir I. Fraserasked the Minister of Health the terms and conditions under which dental nurses are employed in clinics administered by local authorities and dental hospitals; and how these compare with terms and conditions applicable to ordinary nurses and clerks in the Health Service.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI assume my hon. Friend has in mind dental attendants, whose duties consist in the main of general attendance on the dentist in his clinical work. Their work is not comparable with that of nurses. The scale for dental attendants rises from £160 a year at the age of 16 to a maximum of £320 a year. The normal working week is 39 hours. The women's scale for the basic clerical grade is £165 a year at the age of 16 rising to a maximum of £335 a year where duties are wholly simple routine, or otherwise to a maximum of £380 a year. The normal working week is 38 hours.
§ Sir I. FraserWill my right hon. Friend look into this matter at his convenience and bear in mind that there is a good deal of discontent among this limited number of people who seem to be neither nurses nor clerks and get paid worse than both?
§ Mr. MacleodI will certainly look into any problem, but the questions which my hon. Friend raises of allocation to a particular grade and payment in that grade are for the Whitley Council.