§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the percentage pay and price increases in the National Health Service in 1986–87 referred to in paragraph 2 of his press release 85/314;
(2) what level of pay increases for doctors, nurses, technical, administrative and ancillary staff, respectively, are allowed for in the estimates of National Health Service spending given in the autumn statement.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe additional £650 million expenditure on health authorities next year r epresents an increase of336W 6.7 per cent. over this year compared with the general inflation increase forecast of 4.5 per cent. No specific assumption has been made on NHS pay and price increases. Health authorities will have to meet pay and price increases as well as develop and improve services from within the additional resources provided and from their own growing cost improvement programmes.