§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the offer to professional NHS staff not covered by the Pay Review Body was lower than that for staff covered by the Pay Review Body. [106840]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 25 January 2000]: The pay increases recommended by the independent review bodies reflected the particular circumstances of their remit groups. The pay of professional staff in the National Health Service not covered by the review bodies is negotiated in the Whitley Councils. For 1999–2000 higher offers have been made to some non-review groups in recognition of their particular recruitment and retention difficulties.
§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the overall increase in the pay bill for NHS professional staff not covered by the Pay Review Body awards and instead covered by that part of the offer on long-term pay specified for April 2000. [106838]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 25 January 2000]: The increase, for 2000–01, currently on offer to those staff within the National Health Service, but not covered by the Review Bodies, is 3.25 per cent. or £300, whichever is the higher. Overall it is estimated that this will add £210 million to their paybill.
§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the overall increase in the pay bill for NHS staff covered by the Pay Review Body following the awards announced on 17 January. [106837]
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§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 25 January 2000]: Following the full implementation of the Review Bodies' recommendations on pay, it is estimated that an additional £570 million will be added to the paybill of those National Health Service staff directly covered by these awards during 2000–01.
§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much it would cost to pay all professional NHS staff not covered by the Pay Review Body the difference between the 3.4 per cent. offered to nursing staff and professions allied to medicine covered by the Pay Review Body and the 3.25 per cent. offered to staff not covered by the Pay Review Body. [106841]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 25 January 2000]: To pay all non-Review Body staff an additional 0.15 per cent. would add an estimated £10 million to the National Health Service paybill next year.
§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when a decision on expanding Pay Review Body coverage to all professional NHS staff will be made. [106839]
§ Mr. Russell BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to include other NHS staff within the Pay Review Body that covers dentists, doctors and nurses. [106574]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 25 January 2000]: Proposals to modernise the National Health Service pay system set out in "Agenda for Change" include bringing some smaller groups of highly qualified staff within the scope of the Nurses and professions allied to medicine Pay Review Body, without changing its fundamentally professional character. This issue is part of continuing discussions with NHS Unions aimed at reaching agreement by summer 2000.