§ Ms CoffeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the annual salaries of leading ambulance paramedics in each ambulance service.
§ Mr. MaloneMost ambulance services are now provided by national health service trusts, which are free to employ staff on such terms and conditions as they see646W fit. Information about the salaries of ambulance staff on locally determined terms is not available centrally, hut most staff are still engaged on pay and conditions of service negotiated in the ambulance Whitley council. The national salary rate for a leading ambulance man is £15,036 per year and, for extended trained staff required to use paramedical skills, further allowances of £208, £301, £509 or £707 per year may be payable according to the level of training and skill. Additionally, for staff in the London area, allowances of £188, £667 and £1,646 are payable depending on location. Since 1990, all ambulance authorities have within the national agreements had the ability to introduce further local payments to staff linked to improvements in efficiency.