§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff there were in the scientific services, broken down into the professional groups(a) medical consultant, (b) PTA/A top grade scientists, (c) other grades of PTA/A staff, (d) PTB/A MLSO staff and (e) radiographers in post in each December from 1984 to 1988.
§ Mr. MellorWe do not collect routinely detailed information on staff in post at December. The information available as at 30 September each year is set out in the table.
Table: Staff in the scientific services: England As at 30 September each year Whole time equivalents1 Staff Group 1984 1985 1986 19873 Medical Staff2 2,300 2,370 2,410 2,430 Biochemists 1,250 1,200 1,180 1,380 Top Grade 90 110 120 150 Principal 240 240 250 310 Senior 460 440 430 490 Basic Post Probationer 280 240 220 230 Basic Probationer 170 160 150 200 SQOO4 5 5 10 5 Physicists 700 720 770 790 Top Grade 60 70 70 70 Principal 190 200 220 240 Senior 270 290 280 260 Basic Post Probationer 100 90 80 90 Basic Probationer 70 90 110 130 Other Scientists 370 380 440 550 Top Grade 20 20 30 30 Principal 40 50 50 70 Senior 100 110 130 140 Basic Post Probationer 50 70 90 100 Basic Probationer 70 100 120 140 SQOO4 80 40 30 70 Clinical Psychologists 1,360 1,520 1,620 1,700 Top Grade 120 150 200 240 Principal 270 330 360 410 Senior 570 600 600 580 Basic Post Probationer 220 220 210 200 Basic Probationer 190 210 240 270 SQOO4 5 5 10 10 Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers 14,550 14,540 14,620 15,470 Radiographers Qualified 7,750 7,990 8,140 8,250 Helpers 160 190 230 270 Source: Department of Health (SR7) annual census of NHS non-medical manpower.
1 Figures independently founded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalent.
2 Including consultants in pathology, radiology and radiotherapy.
3 Due to occupation coding problems, the 1987 figures, for some regions and therefore for England are not strictly comparable with those for previous years.
4 Precise grade not held centrally.
5 Less than 5..0 whole time equivalents.
Notes:
The staff groups whose pay and conditions of service were negotiated in Committee A of the former Professional and Technical Staffs Council "A" before its demise in 1983 were Biochemists, Physicists, Other Scientists and Clinical Psychologists. Since 1983 pay of these groups has been the responsibility of the Scientific and 314W Professional Staffs Council.
Trainee and Basic clinical psychologist grades were introduced with effect from 1 February 1987 in place of the former basic probationer and basic post probationer grades.
Nursing Homes
§ Mr. PendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to prevent re-registration of any private residential home owner or private nursing home owner found guilty of ill treatment or abuse of residents.
§ Mr. MellorIt is for local authorities and health authorities respectively to satisfy themselves, by making thorough inquiries, of the suitability of applicants for registration in relation to residential care homes and nursing homes. We have advised local authorities that, when making such inquiries they should inform the applicant that by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended) a conviction which would otherwise be "spent" would have to be declared.
The Department assists by acting as a channel of information between authorities about people who have had their registration cancelled and provides a consultancy service to authorities seeking information about applications in respect of homes with children and young people under age 18.