HC Deb 28 February 1984 vol 55 cc127-8
7. Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what subjects he expects to discuss at his next meeting with trade union representatives of Health Service employees.

Mr. Fowler

My right hon. and learned Friend or I meet the TUC health services committee from time to time. The date of the next meeting and the subjects for discussion will be fixed before long.

Mr. Canavan

As the trade unions half day of protest about GCHQ is being supported by thousands of civil servants and by many National Health Service workers, does that not show the Health Service unions complete lack of confidence in the Government's anti-trade union policies? Will the Secretary of State give a categorical assurance that the Government have no plans to try to restrict the trade union membership rights of any category of Health Service employees?

Mr. Fowler

I can give the hon. Gentleman the guarantee for which he asked about trade union rights in the National Health Service, but I hope he will join me in deploring any action that affects patients' interests on a day like this

Mr. Galley

Will my right hon. Friend take the opportunity, when he meets the TUC health services committee, to discuss with it methods of jointly publicising to employees in the Health Service the real increase in resources available to the Health Service at present and how they are being more effectively used? Will he, furthermore, discuss with it the alternative costs of treatments and items used in the Health Service, in order to increase cost consciousness, and will he discuss with it also the extent of waste and pilfering, and methods of reducing them?

Mr. Fowler

I agree with both the substantial points that my hon. Friend has made. Indeed, we have talked to the TUC about health resources, and I think that it has heard the message that the Government are devoting a record amount of resources to health care. We intend to go even further, with the aim of treating even more patients over the next two to three years.

Mr. Meacher

Is the Secretary of State aware that training in special life-saving skills enabled ambulancemen to same some lives at the Harrods bombing which would not otherwise have been saved? Will he therefore let the employers negotiate with the trade unions to bring in a new salary structure in the ambulance service which will be needed to introduce an extended training programme, which it is estimated could save an extra 5,000 lives a year?

Mr. Fowler

This is, of course, essentially a matter for the Whitley council, but I shall consider what the hon. Gentleman has said.