§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the money awarded for regrading to each district health authority in the Merseyside and north-west health region; if he will publish a list showing how nurses were regraded in each district health authority in the Merseyside and north-west region and the criteria used; and if he will specify(a) the amount of money allocated to Warrington health authority and the national average sum allocated to health authorities, (b) the grades awarded in the Warrington health authority and those awarded nationally, (c) the criteria for grading used by the Warrington health authority and those used nationally and (d) the national average pay rise for nurses resulting from regrading.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[holding answer 29 November 1988]: For details of the outcome of regrading in 441W individual district health authorities, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Mr. Knox) on 1 December. All health authorities have carried out the regrading process in accordance with the grading definitions agreed in the Nursing and Midwifery Staffs Negotiation Council and the national guidance subsequently issued by my Department.
The national average increase in the pay bill arising from the nurses' pay award is 17.9 per cent including London supplements. Outside London, the average increase is 16.8 per cent.
The total allocation for the cost of the nurses pay award in England was £731 million, of which £34.9 million was allocated to Mersey regional health authority. These figures were based on regions' own estimates of the extra cost of regrading. Allocation of funds to districts is a matter for regional health authorities, and we do not hold figures centrally. For further information the hon. Member should consult the chairman of Mersey regional health authority.