§ Mr. Tinnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what meetings have been held by the Professional and Technical "A" Whitley Council to consider salaries and a career structure for radiographers in the National Health Service; and when she expects to be able to make a statement.
§ Mrs. CastleA meeting held on 18th March 1974 agreed stage 3 increases to370W operate from 1st April and entered into a threshold agreement. A claim for further increases made on 20th May was considered by the council at a meeting on 29th May. This meeting was adjourned to enable the council to ascertain my intentions over the application of the Halsbury Inquiry to radiographers and other professions supplementary to medicine. As I indicated in my reply on 17th July in response to my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Bagier), when, during the debate on NHS pay on 23rd May, I announced the setting up of the Halsbury Inquiry for nurses, I said that its application to radiographers and other professions supplementary to medicine would be discussed urgently with the Staff Side. It was at the Staff Side's request for an independent inquiry similar to that for nurses that I asked Lord Halsbury if he and his committee would also look at each profession, including radiographers. Lord Halsbury agreed and I announced the relevant terms of reference on 3rd July, when I made it quite clear that the results of the inquiry would be back-dated in full to 23rd May. Lord Halsbury and his committee are already at work on this.
All radiographers will, therefore, be getting a general salary increase payable with effect from 23rd May in addition to the stage 3 increase agreed by their Staff Side from 1st April in addition to the threshold payments they are currently receiving and will continue to receive.