§ Q5. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to improve the co-ordination between 1131 Departments dealing with the pay demands of lower-paid workers within their direct responsibility.
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friends already work very closely together on these matters, Sir.
§ Mr. HamiltonDoes my right hon. Friend recognise, nevertheless, that some of the lowest-paid workers in this country are in the public sector, and will he give an assurance that, even within the latest version of the prices and incomes policy the nurses, for instance, will get and get quickly an increase substantially in excess of the 4½ per cent. and, if need be, an element of retrospection?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend is right to refer to the new White Paper. On the question of low pay there is a big advance in what he has said and what will be the policy, for example, in paragraphs 36 and 59 to 72. On the question of pay in the public services, which includes, and always has included, a considerable number of lower-paid workers, paragraphs 92 to 96 will have been studied by my hon. Friend. I do not think that it would be helpful for me to make a further comment on nurses now, except to say that the particular problem raised by them and certain other groups is dealt with in some detail in the White Paper.
§ Mr. LubbockIs the Prime Minister aware that the Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Security, in answering questions yesterday did not seem to know whether, in the Government's opinion, the nurses are legitimately to be regarded as lower-paid workers within the meaning of the Government's prices and incomes policy? Will he now say categorically that they are?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think the hon. Gentleman will have expected an answer to his question either from my hon. Friend or from me today at a time when negotiations are going on.