§ 2. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further representations he has had in the last month concerning the inadequacy of the meal allowance of £48 per annum payable to nurses, in view of the fact that it is regarded as taxable income.
§ Mr. CrossmanNone, Sir.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs my right hon. Friend aware that that is very surprising? Does not he find it intolerable that the militancy of people like dustmen, firemen and coal miners can obtain for them far in excess of the 31 per cent. laid down by the Government in their incomes policy, but because the nurses cannot or will not exercise that kind of militancy they must be kept strictly within the 31 per cent. Will he give an assurance that he is urgently reconsidering this matter?
§ Mr. CrossmanThat is a very different question. I was asked about the £48 increase made with regard to a specific complaint by the young student nurses, a complaint which was met and that was appreciated. A new wage claim is being initiated. I am glad that the nurses are responsibly working for a claim which is expected to be announced in February, rather than rushing into violent action.
§ Sir J. Langford-HoltHas the right hon. Gentleman noticed that this amount is very similar to the untaxable 3s. a day allowed to any typist? What plans has he for ending what is probably regarded as the unfairest anomaly of all?
§ Mr. CrossmanI do not agree. This was a specific extra amount of money that it was felt student nurses needed for their special meals allowance. This does not apply to typists.
§ Mr. HamiltonOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of those answers, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.
§ 14. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what form and when the new meal allowances at £48 per annum are to be paid to nurses, and whether on a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual basis in cash, or in kind, by vouchers or otherwise ; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CrossmanThis allowance is already being paid to the appropriate nurses where meals are paid for as taken. It is paid in cash, monthly or weekly according to local pay arrangements.
§ Sir G. NabarroIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that any woman obtaining a job in an establishment which does not have a canteen and who has, in lieu of a canteen meal, a luncheon voucher obtains the voucher free of tax at a maximum rate of 3s. per day? Would he not agree to concede the same point to student nurses, to afford them at least parity with all other occupations of a roughly equivalent kind?
§ Mr. CrossmanI would not take that assumption of equivalent occupations altogether for granted. The reason why vouchers were not given was that the Whitley Council agreed to a cash payment, because vouchers would have been more difficult to absorb into the basic pay in due course as is intended.
§ Mr. William HamiltonIs my right hon. Friend aware that last week a Treasury Minister admitted that there was an anomaly in this situation? Since my right hon. Friend has a responsibility to protect the nurses, will he say what representations he has made to the Treasury to remove the anomaly?
§ Mr. CrossmanIf my hon. Friend would read the second part of my answer to the previous Question he will find that I have answered him, too.
§ Sir G. NabarroOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.