§ 11. Mrs. Braddockasked the Minister of Health whether he will require hospital management committees to consult the staffs of hospitals before they decide to pay staff wages and salaries by cheque; and if he will take steps to safeguard the rights of individual members of the staff if payment by cheque creates hardship.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithIt is the normal practice of hospital authorities to consult their staff individually before introducing new arrangements to pay wages and salaries by cheque, and I am not aware of any case of requirement to accept a cheque in payment resulting in hardship. However, if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, I will gladly consider it if she will send particulars to me.
§ Mrs. BraddockI will send the Minister particulars, but a matter of principle is involved. Is he aware that at the moment many hospital management committees are paying salaries and wages by cheque and that this puts great hardship on many of the staffs? Will he circulate hospital management committees telling them that, although they may pay by cheque, the position must be left open so that the staff may claim their wages in cash if they so desire?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI will certainly consider the step which the hon. Lady has suggested. I think that, generally speaking, hospital authorities are aware of the position and that if employees wish to be paid in cash they are entitled to be so paid. At the same time, there are many conveniences in paying by cheque, particularly in the avoidance of the movement of large sums of money in isolated areas where mental hospitals are normally situated.