HC Deb 16 July 1974 vol 877 cc225-8
6. Mr. Ancram

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further plans she has, if any, for meeting representatives from branches of the medical profession.

Mrs. Castle

My Department is constantly in touch with the medical profession on a wide range of matters. and I am myself available when necessary. The Prime Minister has told the British Medical Association that I will be glad to resume discussions with it about the future development of pay arrangements after the ending of statutory controls.

Mr. Ancram

I thank the right hon. Lady for that reply. Will she withdraw the unconstructive remark she made recently about consultants playing politics. and will she realise that protest is not the prerogative of the Left and that consultants are seriously concerned with their own position within the National Health Service, which she would do well to take seriously herself?

Mrs. Castle

No, Sir, I will not withdraw that remark. Of course I am aware of consultants' concern. That is why within weeks I responded constructively to their request for a joint working party to be set up under the chairmanship of my hon. Friend to examine consultants' contracts and their difficulties.

My remark was made in the context of the fact that I was aware that health authorities and the health service had been plagued by four things. The first was the lowerst-ever morale, due to the pay policy of the previous Government which kept pay down. The second was the December cuts. The third was reorganisation and the fourth was the effect of price increases. When the previous Government did this damage to the National Health Service, however, there was not a word of protest. As soon as we came into office and tried—slowly, I admit, and we have by no means yet succeeded entirely—to rectify the situation by a pay review, an inquiry and a promise to pay increases, as well as the £40 million which is to be made available to health authorities, all that the BMA could do was jeer. I call that playing politics.

Mr. Carter-Jones

May I be assured that the first question which my right hon. Friend puts to the medical authorities will be why they laughed at her extra £40 million when they did nothing about the £111 million cut?

Mrs. Castle

That has been puzzling me as well.

Mr. Raison

Is the right hon. Lady aware that since she took office there has been a tragic deterioration in relations in the health service? Will she once more repeat that the £40 million has absolutely nothing to do with restoring cuts made last December? Will she acknowledge that the tone of her answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Ancram) just now indicates why relations are becoming so bad?

Mrs. Castle

No, Sir. I do not accept a single word of what the hon. Gentleman says. As soon as I took over this job I was told by all concerned that the morale of the National Health Service had never been at such a low ebb. There have been years of pent-up frustration and bitterness among nurses, radiographers, medical laboratory technicians. physical measurement technicians and a whole range of workers who have since been showing such disquiet and unrest. This arises completely and directly from the pay policy of the previous Government. The first step we took was to reverse that policy not only generally but also in its effect on the groups I have mentioned.

Therefore, surely the most important point is that while some people try to talk about the collapse of the National Health Service the Government have stepped in without delay to produce £40 million for England alone to alleviate the effects of price increases—[Interruption.] I have made it perfectly clear what this move is all about. I am glad that the Opposition are so ashamed of their own December cuts—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I remind the House that this is not debating time; it is Question Time.

Mrs. Castle

It is also—

Mr. Speaker

What I said applies to both sides of the House.

Mrs. Castle

It is also important for the House and all those who want to restore morale in the National Health Service to realise that when the pay increases are delivered to the nurses and others the extra money will be found to meet those increases. The Government have made this clear.