§ 46. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health, in view of the recent £25 per annum rise in pay to nurses and the probable increase in charge for furnished accommodation from £52 to £90 per annum, whether he will consider an adjustment of these figures to avoid nurses being financially worse off than they were before the nominal increase in salary.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodNo, Sir. The new maximum charges were agreed by the Whitley Council.
§ Mr. SorensenIf the right hon. Gentleman agrees with these figures—and he has not disputed them—does he not think that it seems rather unfair to give a rise of £25 and then almost simultaneously increase the charges for accommodation by so large an amount? Is it not a Dutchman's rise?
§ Mr. MacleodI do not think there is any connection between the two. As far as the charge for furnished accommodation is concerned, the £52 was a fixed amount, the £90 is a maximum, and I do not think it necessarily follows that there will be the consequences that the hon. Member foresees.