HC Deb 21 November 1972 vol 846 cc350-2W
80. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now instruct the management side of the Whitley Council to negotiate with the remedial professions on the basis of meeting the requests put forward by them to ensure adequate salary scales and grading.

Mr. Alison

This is a matter for the Management Side in the light of the Government's White Paper (Cmnd. 5125) published on 6th November.

81. Mr. Whitlock

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many meetings have taken place this year between the staff side and the management side of the Whitley Council to consider the proposals which were first put forward in November, 1970, on a revised career grading structure in the National Health Service for members of the remedial professions; and why there have been delays in the consideration of this matter culminating in an offer on 4th November, 1972, which would have involved reductions in salary for some members of these professions.

Mr. Alison

As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. David Clark) on 13th November the Whitley Council is considering the structures of eight professions including the three remedial professions. There have been 10 joint

MOVEMENT IN PRICES* AND RETIREMENT PENSIONS† IN THE PERIODS OCTOBER, 1964, TO JUNE, 1970, AND JUNE, 1970, TO OCTOBER, 1972, SHOWING THE REAL VALUE OF RETIREMENT PENSION AFTER ALLOWING FOR CHANGE IN PRICES
Standard rate of retirement pension† and retail prices as indices based on (1) October, 1964=100, and (2) June, 1970=100 Real value of retirement pension† after allowing for change in prices* as an index based on (1) October, 1964=100, and (2) June, 1970 = 100
Retirement pension Retail prices*
(1)—
October, 1964 … … 100 100 100
March, 1965—
Old rate … … 100 102 98
New rate … … 119 116
October, 1967—
Old rate119 … … 111 107
New rate … … 133 120
November, 1969—
Old rate … … 133 124 108
New rate … … 148 120
June, 1970 … … 148 130 114
(2)—
June, 1970 … … 100 100 100
September, 1971—
Old rate … … 100 111 90
New rate … … 120 108
October, 1972—
Old rate … … 120 121 100
New rate … … 135 112
* Based on the Index of Retail Prices.
† For persons who have not attained 80 years of age.

Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount paid out in social security benefits in the latest week for which these figures are available and the amount paid out for similar benefits in the corresponding week 12 months earlier.

sub-committee meetings besides a meeting of the full council and many informal contacts. While these professions share some common problems they also have their own special features and so progress in the sub-committees has been uneven. I am informed that there has been no proposal to reduce the current salary of any staff.—[Vol. 846, c. 49.]