§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in his negotiations on health workers' pay, he makes a distinction between those represented by organisations within the Trades Union Congress health group and those within the professional bodies, including the Royal College of Nursing, and, in view of the fact that the professional body of the Health Visitors Association is a long-standing affiliate of the Trades Union Congress, in which negotiating talks he designates this organisation.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI assume that this question refers to our recent discussions with both the Trades Union Congress health services committee and the professional nursing organisations. It was necessary to hold separate talks because the Trades Union Congress cannot represent professional organisations not affiliated to it. It is not for us to decide whether the Health Visitors Association should be represented by the Trades Union Congress health services committee or regard itself as a body associated with the professional nursing organisations. This is a matter for the Health Visitors Association itself to determine. The association is represented on the staff side of the nurses and midwives Whitley council and will be involved in the pay negotiations which take place within that council.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report for (a) all nurses and (b) National Health Service ASC staff figures to show average earnings for 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82 and the total numbers employed for the same years.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe information is:
377W
National Health Service Staff: England All nurses and midwives All ASC staff Year Number employed Average at 30 September Average weekly earnings Number employed Average at 30 September Average weekly earnings all staff Average weekly earnings (wte) earnings (wte) (wte) FT men FT women 1978–79 347,500 66.30 172,200 58.60 68.63 55.81 1979–80 354,400 72.26 171,900 64.50 75.81 61.83 1980–81 365,900 99.90 172,000 81.19 98.17 77.08 1981–82 *388,000 105.90 *172,400 87.96 104.17 84.02 * Estimated. Notes:
1. The figure for all nursing and midwifery staff includes all qualifed and unqualified nurses and midwifes employed in the NHS including students but excluding those employed by agencies.
2. The settlement date for nurses is 1 April so the figures relate to pay scales effective between 1 April and the following 31 March. In 1980–81 nurses' working hours were reduced from 40 to 37½ per week.
3. The settlement date for ancillaries was formerly 13 December but the 1980 settlement was for 15 months. The figures for 1978–79 to 1980–81 relate to the settlements effective from 13 December 1977, 1978 and 1979 respectively and the figures for 1981–82 to the settlement effective from 13 December 1980.