§ 45. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Minister of Health whether he has now instructed his representatives on the Whitley Council which is considering the radiographers' salary claim; and when he expects to announce a decision.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithYes, Sir. I have informed both sides of the Whitley Council that, in present economic circumstances, the Secretary of State for Scotland and I could not agree to a pay award being made in response to this claim.
§ Mr. RobinsonIs this not a further outrageous interference with the working of Whitley Council machinery? How does the right hon. and learned Gentleman expect the staff of the National Health Service to have any further faith in that machinery? Will he take the opportunity of apologising for having misled the House on a previous occasion, when he put the whole responsibility for delay on to the management side, whereas it was entirely his own fault?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe hon. Member is quite wrong in the second part of his supplementary question. The management side includes the representatives of the Secretary of State and myself; they are an integral part of the management side. Certainly there was no question of misleading the House, and no apology is called for. Regarding the main part of the supplementary question, on a previous occasion criticism was made that the Secretary of State and I did not give sufficient indication of the way in which our minds were working in regard to the exercise of our statutory duty. In this case, we have given notice so that both sides of the Whitley Council are aware of the position.
§ Dr. SummerskillIn view of the fact that there is a grave shortage of radiographers throughout the country and that radiography is a hazardous occupation, does not the Minister think it grossly unjust not to accept this award?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI am aware that there is a shortage of radiographers, but the right hon. Lady will also be aware that their present pay and emoluments are governed by an award of the Industrial Court made as recently as November, 1956. There are, in fact, more radiographers than there were at the time of the award, although the number of posts has expanded to a slightly greater extent. This is a very recent award of the Industrial Court, which has to be borne in mind in the context of the present economic situation.
§ Mr. RobinsonIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman in fact saying that now every Whitley Council has got to reach disagreement before there can be even the possibility of a pay increase? Is that what this decision means?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithNo, Sir. I am saying now what I have already said in this House—that these questions have got to be looked at on their merits in the context of the general economic position of the country.