§ Dr. Stuttafordasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now make a statement on the Report of the Working Party on the Hospital Pharmaceutical Service.
§ Sir K. JosephIn a statement on 25th February last my predecessor announced the publication of the Report of the Working Party on the Hospital Pharmaceutical Service and informed the House of its principal recommendations. These included a reorganisation of the Hospital Pharmaceutical Service on a larger scale and the introduction of an improved grading structure for pharmacists and technicians.
My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales and I, having taken full account of the views which have been expressed by a large number of hospital authorities and professional and staff organisations, have decided to accept in principle the main recommendations in the Report. We now intend to undertake discussions with hospital authorities on the consequential changes in organisation, and to invite the Whitley Councils concerned to discuss salaries and conditions 95W of service for the proposed new staffing structures.—[Vol. 796, c. 355–7.]