HC Deb 15 June 1999 vol 333 cc110-1W
Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average pay award to(a) nurses, (b) doctors, (c) speech therapists, (d) medical laboratory scientific officers and (e) NHS administrative staff, in percentage terms, in the most recent round of pay negotiations; how much each of these awards cost in cash terms in (i) Gloucestershire and (ii) nationally; what percentage of the increase in the NHS budget each of these awards took up (1) in Gloucestershire and (2) nationally; and if he will make a statement. [85647]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 8 June 1999]In the last complete round of pay negotiations, hospital doctors were awarded 4.2 per cent. paid from 1 December 1998, with 2 per cent. (and 0.35 per cent. in respect of the value of pensions) paid from 1 April 1998. Nurses, speech therapists, medical laboratory scientific officers and National Health Service administrative and clerical staff received 3.8 per cent. from 1 December 1998 with 2 per cent. paid from 1 April. The additional cost of pay increases for all Hospital and Community Health Service staff in 1998–99, relative to pay in 1997–98, was £440 million in England; separate information for Gloucestershire is not available. This cost was 20 per cent. of the £2,196 million increase in net NHS funding in 1998–99.