§ 55. Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with industrial relations in the ambulance service.
§ Mr. Deakins:I am well aware of the need to improve industrial relations in the NHS, and this includes the ambulance service. Following discussions with the major unions and with the chairmen of RHAs, my right hon. Friend has circulated to the NHS joint recommendations for improving procedures for handling local disputes with a proposal that the General Whitley Council be invited to incorporate them into a national agreement. The proposed new procedure would deal with disputes that are not covered by the existing Whitley procedures.
The National Training Council, which has made industrial relations training one of its main priorities, is also considering whether the ambulance service has any special needs in this field.