HC Deb 03 March 1958 vol 583 cc816-8
20. Mr. Mellish

asked the Minister of Health if he will now state when he intends to implement the Noel Hall Report on Administrative and Clerical Workers (Hospital Service).

21. Mr. Blenkinsop

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now make a statement regarding the implementation of the Noel Hall Report.

31. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Minister of Health what advice he has received from the Whitley Council which has been considering Sir Noel Hall's Report; and what action he will take to implement the recommendations of the Report.

Mr. Walker-Smith

I cannot yet add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, North (Mr. J. Iremonger) on 28th January.

Mr. Mellish

The Minister will know that this matter is still with the Whitley Council and, in view of his record in previous negotiations of the Whitley Council, the Minister will understand the great uneasiness that is felt by many people about this. May I ask for an assurance that if, in fact, recommendations are made to implement much of the Noel Hall Report, which includes the grading structure, and, therefore, means increased salaries for the staff involved, he will not veto that decision but will, in fact, pay them?

Mr. Walker-Smith

I do not think it is constitutional for me to bind myself in the exercise of a statutory duty the time for which has not yet arrived. However, I will certainly tell the hon. Gentleman and the House that I am very hopeful that on this occasion the subcommittee before whom this question now is will arrive at a viable solution which will give general satisfaction. That is certainly my hope.

Mr. Robinson

The Minister very recently announced a decision in advance of the time he was called upon to make it in the case of the radiographers' claim. Can he give some indication that there will be finality in this matter at an early date, because he knows as well as we all do that this is really urgent in the National Health Service?

Mr. Walker-Smith

With respect, I think that the two cases are clearly distinguishable. In this case, the circumstances have not, as yet, arisen on which I could take a definitive decision in the exercise of my statutory powers. In the case of the radiographers, that time had, in fact, come, and I simply wrote to both sides of the Whitley Council so that there should be no misunderstanding and neither side should feel that it had been embarrassed by not knowing what was in our mind at that stage.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Does the Minister fully recognise the very great difficulties there are in securing in the National Health Service proper appointments in the higher as well as other clerical grades, and that to a very large extent we are now dependent on part-time employment? Is it not highly desirable that every possible encouragement, and an early decision, should be given?

Mr. Walker-Smith

I certainly recognise and have always proclaimed the desirability of having a proper and satisfactory career structure in this service. It is for that reason that Sir Noel Hall was asked to make his Report, and it is to get the right implementation of that Report that the sub-committee is now at work.