§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of the midwives' regrading exercise.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe grading outcomes which I published on 28 November show that midwives have benefited even more than nurses from the new structure. Nine out of ten staff midwives have received increases of around 25 per cent. more. Three out of four midwifery sisters have received increases of at least 16 per cent., or £1,925. The average value to midwives of this year's award following the regrading is over 20 per cent. Midwives have now been told their new grades and the vast majority received the new rates of pay in their November pay packets. Back pay from April should be paid before Christmas.
At my meeting with the Royal College of Midwives on 7 December I agreed to repeat to health authorities previous guidance on particular issues affecting grading in order to help inform some appeals.