§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the cost in a full year of a pay increase to nurses of (a) 6 per cent., (b) 7½ per cent. and (c) 10½ per cent.
§ Dr. VaughanThe estimated Great Britain nursing and midwifery pay bill, on which the 1981 pay negotiations were based, was £2,413 million. This figure excludes the cost of employers' contributions for national finance and superannuation. The cost of the 6 per cent. pay increase for 1981 was £144.8 million. Increases of 7½ per cent. and 10½ per cent. would have cost £181 million and £253.4 million respectively.