§ 37. Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a pharmacist managing a large retail chemist shop earns nearly twice the salary paid to a pharmacist in charge of a teaching hospital group; and when he intends to review the salary scales of the hospital pharmacists.
§ Mr. TurtonI have no detailed information about the salaries paid to the 975 managers of chemists' shops. Any review of the salaries of hospital pharmacists is, in the first place, a matter for the Pharmaceutical Whitley Council.
§ Dr. StrossCould the Minister none the less use his influence to see that a review does occur? Is he not satisfied that the pharmaceutical services in the hospitals are now breaking down for the reasons implied in the Question and, as a result, there is a great wastage of money in his Department?
§ Mr. TurtonHospital salaries were substantially increased by Whitley agreement last year.
§ 38. Dr Strossasked the Minister of Health the basic grade of salary for pharmacists in the hospital service on entry and after eight years' service, the salary of a deputy chief pharmacist and the rate paid for a locum.
§ Mr. TurtonSalary on entry is from £500–£550 a year, and after eight years' service is from f695–£725 a year. Pharmacists in London and those with a higher qualification receive extra allowances. A deputy chief pharmacist's pay is within the range of £625–£925 a year. There is no fixed rate of payment for a locum.
§ Dr. StrossDoes the Minister not agree that the minimum rates paid to locums, who are young and inexperienced pharmacists, is about 14 guineas or more a week? Does that not highlight the problem and show that the pharmaceutical services in the hospitals need the Minister's serious attention?
§ Mr. TurtonThe amount paid for a locum varies in different parts of the
976 country. It is true that approvals have been given for payments at the rate of 14 guineas a week.
NUMBER OF REGISTERED BLIND AND PARTIALLY-SIGHTED PERSONS Blind Partially-Sighted — 31st March, 1945 31st March, 1950 31st December, 1955 31st December, 1955 England … … … 70,354 75,420 87,574 16,666 Wales … … … 5,404 5,900 7,109 1,769 Figures of Partially-Sighted for 1945 and 1950 are not available.