§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will break down the information given in his answer to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Janman), on 11 July at column468, about bids by district health authorities for additional financial allocations from the sum available in 1988–89 for flexible pay settlements for nursing and midwifery staff to show the number of bids in respect of midwifery staff, the grades of the posts concerned, and the number of such bids which were accepted.
§ Mr. MellorFour bids were received in respect of posts clearly designated as midwifery, covering 152 staff. Of these three were accepted, covering 146 staff graded at D, E and F, and one was rejected, covering six staff at grade I.
A further 10 bids were received in respect of units related to maternity where the greater proportion of the posts may be filled by midwives. These were all accepted, and covered 267 staff at grades C to G.