§ Mrs. L. Jegerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to make a statement on the conditions of employment and salaries of Government doctors in Cyprus; the number of vacancies; and what action is proposed to end the present dispute.
§ Mr. HareThe present salaries (exclusive of allowances) of doctors in the 247W Cyprus Government Service range from a minimum of £794 p.a. for a Class II medical officer to £1,600 p.a. for a senior specialist. Other terms of service, including cost of living allowance at 9 per cent. of basic salary and overseas allowance at 15 per cent. are identical with the unrevised terms of service for other Government officers in Cyprus, except that specialist medical officers are also allowed to retain 50 per cent. of consulting fees. No private practice is allowed. The proposed new salary scales range from £900 p.a. to £1,800 p.a. with the same conditions of service except that the overseas allowance is increased to 20 per cent.
There were no outstanding vacancies at the end of 1955. There are now three new posts which have not yet been advertised.
The proposed new salaries and conditions of service are under discussion locally and with the British Medical Association.