§ 33. Mr. Albuasked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to remedy the shortage of hospital maintenance engineers.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe number of hospital maintenance engineers has increased annually since 1957. Since November, 1958, there have been two increases in salaries together amounting to about 9 per cent.
§ Mr. AlbuIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that these engineers are paid less than engineers in comparable occupations, including local government, and have been trying to get their salaries increased to local government rates for several years? Is it not time that something was done to bring this about?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithTheir salaries, as the hon. Gentleman may know, are those which were awarded by the Industrial Court and came into force on 1st September, 1959.