§ LORD SOUTHWOODMy Lords, my noble friend Lord Latham very much regrets that it is impossible for him to be present, and has asked me to ask the question which stands in his name.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are now in a position to make any statement in regard to the progress of negotiations for bringing the salaries and emoluments of nurses in mental hospitals and mental deficiency institutions within the purview of the Rushcliffe Committee.]
§ LORD SNELLMy Lords, I am glad to say that this matter has now been brought to a satisfactory conclusion on the following lines. A Sub-Committee will be appointed in association with the Rushcliffe Committee for the purpose of drawing up agreed scales of salaries and emoluments of nurses in mental hospitals and mental deficiency institutions in the light of the recommendations made by the Rushcliffe Committee. The Sub-Committee will consist of two panels of employers and employed each of which will include six members from each of the appropriate panels of the Rushcliffe Committee and the Joint Conciliation Committee of the Mental Hospitals Committee and the Mental Hospital and Institutional Workers' Union. The Chairman of the Sub-Committee will be appointed by my right honourable friend the Minister of Health. At the same time my right honourable friend will appoint on the main Rushcliffe Committee four representatives of the Mental Hospitals Association and four representatives of the Mental Hospital and Institutional Workers' Union, on the understanding that these additional members will take part in the deliberations of the Committee only when matters appertaining to mental nurses are under consideration. My right honourable friend is glad to have this opportunity of expressing his appreciation of the spirit of accommodation which has been shown by all parties in the course of the negotiations by which this settlement has been brought about.