§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the effect on recruitment and retention of university clinical academic staff of the discrepancies in pay between them and National Health Service staff.
§ Mr. WaldenThe present salary differences between National Health Service hospital doctors and university clinical academic staff reflect the fact that the 1985 pay settlement for the former group was concluded last June, whereas the university settlement has yet to be decided. (Until last June the salaries of both groups were broadly in line). Recruitment and retention of the university staff are unlikely to be affected significantly by the different timing of these settlements.