HC Deb 24 April 1961 vol 639 c31
44. Mrs. Castle

asked the Minister of Health whether he will amend the scales of pay for pre-nursing students in order to enable them to receive the same pay increase as was awarded to nurses from 1st December last.

Mr. Powell

Yes, Sir. Increases in the maximum rates of pay are being authorised with effect from 1st April, 1961.

Mrs. Castle

I thank the Minister for that reply. May I ask whether he will go a little further, in order to encourage these pre-nursing students to feel that they are a potential part of the nursing profession, by back-dating their increase to December, 1960, in order to coincide with the date of the commencement of the most recent increase in nurses' salaries?

Mr. Powell

I entirely agree that this is a very important source of recruitment for nursing. But the adjustment of pay for nursing cadets has never been at the same time as the adjustment of pay for nurses. In fact, on the present occasion the interval is shorter.

Mr. Fernyhough

But there is no reason why it should not be.

Mr. Marsh

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House how the new pay scales were arrived at, and whether they were negotiated through the Whitley machine?

Mr. Powell

They are the application of the pay scales negotiated for nurses.