Health Service Pay

HC Deb 25 March 1986 vol 94 cc780-1

11. Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement as to his policy on Health Service pay.

Mr. Fowler

The review bodies covering doctors, nurses and other professional groups have taken evidence and will report to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. The ancillary staffs Whitley Council discussed this year's pay claim at its meeting on 13 March. Other negotiaions will also follow.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Is there not poverty pay among Britain's NHS ancillary workers? Is it not true that male ancillary workers in the National Health Service earn £40 per week less than the national average manual worker and that women in a similar position earn £65 less? When decisions are taken by 1 April, may we have an assurance that the gap will be closed by the Government?

Mr. Fowler

The first meeting of the ancillary staff side part of the Whitley council took place on 13 March. at that meeting the management side put forward a proposal which could lead to a major revision of the existing grade structure. I am glad to say that the staff side welcomed that in principle and that negotiations will continue on it.

Mr. Meacher

Is the Secretary of State aware that a ward sister with major patient responsibility now gets less pay than a freshly recruited police constable of 19? Is he aware that the maximum that a staff nurse can earn is less than the minimum amount received by the lowest paid constable? Will he give an assurance that in the current negotiations he will rectify this manifest iniquity and will he also publicly repudiate the use of blackmail in saying that any above-inflation increase in nurses' pay will be taken back by cuts in services to patients?

Mr. Fowler

There is no question of blackmail. The hon. Gentleman will agree that there have been two years during which nurses have had above-average increases. This Government set up an independent review body for nurses, which the nursing profession wanted for years. We provided that, and we were right to do so.