§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much it would cost to increase National Health Service darkroom technicians' running repairs allowance in line with inflation to 1985 since its last increase in 1971; and what proportion of the professional and technical branch E committee budget such an improvement would take.
§ Mr. John PattenThe cost of increasing this and another similar allowance in line with the movement in the retail price index since 1971 is estimated to be £127,000 or 0.17 per cent. of the committee's paybill. Our information does not allow us to distinguish the two allowances.