HC Deb 28 February 1986 vol 92 c709W
Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the total cost nationally of the recent ambulance service pay award.

Mr. Whitney

The cost in 1985–86 is expected to be contained within an increase of 4.7 per cent. of the pay bill. Costs in subsequent years will depend upon the outcome of local agreements intended to lead to major improvements in productivity.

Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from (a) English health authorities, (b) regional general managers and (c) trade unions, about the recent ambulance service pay award.

Mr. Whitney

Negotiations on pay are a matter for the ambulance Whitley Council and there are direct lines of communication between the management side and National Health Service management. Some representations have been made by regional general managers and others about the local effects of the recent pay settlement. We have not received any representations from trade unions.

Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provisions the National Health Service management board have made in existing budgets to cover the cost of the recent ambulance service pay award; and whether this award will exceed those budgeted provisions.

Mr. Whitney

Health authorities are expected to meet both pay increases and service requirements from the allocations made to them by Government and from their growing cost improvement programmes.

Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate has been made by each of the ambulance services in England of the cost of implementing the recent ambulance service pay award.

Mr. Whitney

This information is not held centrally.