§ Mr. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North)I wish to present a petition signed by more than 7,000 people over the past three months and collected by members of the National Union of Public Employees. It is signed by patients, hospital workers and members of the general public in support of the nurses and the nursing profession.
The petition calls for decent pay and conditions and proper treatment for nurses in the National Health Service. The signatures have been collected by the Wakefield office of NUPE and come from all over Yorkshire, Humberside and other parts of the country. The petition says:
the current proposals of the Management Side of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Whitley Council in respect of nurses' pay will not justly reward nursing staff for their dedication to hard and responsible work. We also deplore the 1105 proposals to cut Special Duty payments and other allowances, which are paid to nurses for night, weekend, and bank holiday work and other duties.Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House will oppose these proposals and urge the Government to meet the justified claims of nursing staff, for a fair salary settlement.The petition is signed by thousands of people in one part of the country, but reflects the views of millions throughout the rest of the country and it has my absolute and full support.
§ To lie upon the Table.