§ 56. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to assist the recruitment of supervisors and assistant supervisors for mental deficiency hospital schools and to stop the drift of these officers from the hospitals to the local health authorities.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Derek Walker-Smith)The salaries of these officers were increased last November and were then in line with those paid to their counterparts employed by local authorities. Following a recent increase in the salaries paid by local authorities a claim for a further increase for these officers is under consideration by the appropriate Whitley Council.
§ Mr. RobinsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is not only a question of salary but that the local authorities can offer much better conditions of service and, in particular, longer holidays to these officials? Is it not the fact that the hospital service is labouring under very great difficulties indeed, and will he use his influence, through his representatives on the Whitley Council, to try to iron out the anomalies in the interests of the hospital service?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI am aware of this problem in regard to holidays and so on. The hon. Gentleman may be aware that, last January, the hospital 34 authorities were given discretion to allow somewhat similar concessions, but it is a little early yet to say what is the effect of this.