§ Mr. Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the reasons for the lower level of pay received by a Scottish ambulance driver relative to his English and Welsh counterparts in recent years.
§ Mr. YoungerAmbulancemen and women in Scotland receive the same nationally agreed basic rates of pay as their English and Welsh counterparts. Within the single ambulance service which operates in Scotland a policy of employing reliefs means that the level of overtime working is not as high as it is in many services in England and Wales. Another factor contributing to lower earnings in Scotland is the absence of an up-to-date bonus scheme. Bonus schemes can be implemented by local agreement, and over 50 per cent. of the ambulance work force in England and Wales are covered by bonus schemes which can boost earnings considerably. The introduction of a current bonus scheme in Scotland has been unacceptable to the trade unions concerned because of the loss of jobs which would be required to finance it.