HC Deb 04 July 1966 vol 731 cc20-3
2. Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the application of incentive bonus schemes to building workers employed in the hospital service; and if he will make a statement.

3. Mr. Urwin

asked the Minister of Health what recent developments there have been in the application of incentive bonus schemes to building workers employed in the hospital service; how long these schemes have been in preparation; and if he will make a statement.

4. Mr. Hilton

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the application of incentive bonus schemes to building workers employed in the hospital service; and if he will make a statement.

14. Mr. Gregory

asked the Minister of Health what action has been taken in the application of incentive bonus schemes to building workers employed in the hospital service; how long such schemes have been under preparation; and if he will make a statement.

15. Mr. Orme

asked the Minister of Health what progress has now been made in introducing incentive bonus schemes for building workers in the hospital service; how long these schemes have been in preparation; and if he will make a statement.

50. Mr. Heffer

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the application of incentive bonus schemes to building operatives employed in the hospital service; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Loughlin

The experimental scheme in the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital Group came fully into operation in March. In February my right hon. Friend arranged for management consultants to carry out preparatory work to see whether two further experimental schemes could be introduced and this work is in progress.

Mr. Morris

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is considerable concern among building trade operatives on this matter?

Is my hon. Friend aware that it is felt that there has been excruciating delay and that we should like to see bonus schemes introduced and progress made at the earliest possible date?

Mr. Loughlin

We, too, would like to see progress at the earliest possible date. I can assure my hon. Friend that we are looking at this matter on the basis of trying to get the introduction of the right kind of scheme in the right places so that we can make progress.

Mr. Urwin

Is my hon. Friend aware of the extensive delay in negotiations in the hospital service? Is he further aware of the extensive dissimilarity in wages earned in this section of employment between maintenance workers employed by hospital boards and those brought in by contractors? Will he try to speed up the introduction of incentive schemes to resolve this inequality?

Mr. Loughlin

I appreciate what my hon. Friend says, but he ought to be quite clear that there are some difficulties in introducing in hospitals the type of work study schemes which apply in other buildings. I can assure him that we are doing what we can to get the picture quite clear and to introduce such schemes where they are viable.

Mr. Gregory

Is my hon. Friend aware that the delay in introducing incentive schemes of this kind is severely testing the loyalty of workers who could play an important rôle in the modernisation and building of our hospitals? Will he do something to speed up the introduction of these schemes.

Mr. Loughlin

There are a number of problems peculiar to hospitals and my hon. Friend will have to accept this. I keep having to repeat that we are conscious of this problem, that we want the highest productivity and that bonus schemes may give this to us, but we do not want to rush ahead with these proposals unless we feel that we shall get the right results.

Mr. Hilton

Is my hon. Friend aware that the first item of correspondence on the negotiations dates from 1957? Is he aware that negotiations have dragged on under two Conservative Administrations and two Labour Administrations. Does he realise that the tolerance shown by these workers in these circumstances is deserving of public tribute?

Mr. Loughlin

I am always paying public tributes to people who work in the Health Service, but my hon. Friend must accept that I can accept responsibility only for the period of time during which my right hon. Friend has been in office. We have not delayed to the extent suggested in the supplementary question.

Mr. Orme

Is my hon. Friend aware that it appears that the prices and incomes policy is running at two levels in the Health Service? Why is there speed in one type of settlement in the Health Service, possibly justified, but not on the manual workers' side? Is he aware that it is only the loyalty of these workers to the Health Service which has prevented a serious strike in this industry?

Mr. Loughlin

I appreciate the loyalty of the workers in the Health Service. If my hon. Friend wants an answer to the main part of his question, he must put a Question down.

Mr. Heffer

Is my hon. Friend aware that, while difficult, it is not impossible to institute bonus schemes for maintenance workers? Is he aware that this is now being done by all local authorities and surely, on the basis of what my hon. Friends have said, he must agree that it is high time that some positive and quick action was taken in this matter?

Mr. Loughlin

Of course it is not impossible. We have been in consultation with the trade unions about this matter, and, as I indicated in my original reply, we have appointed consultants to try to resolve the problem.

Mr. Alfred Morris

On a point of order [Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. I understand that the hon. Member wishes to raise a point of order, but he must not wave papers at the Chair.

Mr. Morris

On a point of order. Is it not unusual, Mr. Speaker, for my right hon. Friend the Minister not to reply when so many hon. Members on this side of the House are interested in the question concerning the incomes policy? Should not the Minister answer the question?

Mr. Speaker

That is not a point of order for the Chair. The hon. Gentleman should, if he wishes, raise that matter at the end of Question Time. He should know that by now.