§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures he is taking to ensure that nurses working through NHS Professionals are paid on time and in full; [30774]
(2) whether nurses working through NHS Professionals will be paid weekly. [30772]
758W
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the length of time is within which he expects NHS Professionals to pay its temporary staff; [39683]
(2) if the payroll costs in respect of NHS Professionals staff are charged out to its clients; [39681]
(3) what steps he is taking to ensure that the costs of (a) time sheet processing and (b) payroll functions of NHS Professionals are identified and reported. [41728]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answers 1 March 2002]: I apologise to the hon. Members for the delay in responding to these questions. I refer them to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March, 2002, Official Report, column 192W.
HSC 2001/002 and guidance "NHS Professionals—A co-ordinated, NHS-led approach to temporary staffing" sets out NHS Professionals national standards for good employment practice, including provision for weekly payment upon submission of completed and authorised time sheets.
Local, regional and national project boards are in place to monitor the implementation of NHS Professionals to meet the required standards.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how an NHS employee will become entitled to extra(a) maternity and (b) sickness pay in return for working additional hours for NHS Professionals; and what is the nature of the extra entitlement; [41724]
(2) whether a permanent NHS employee will be entitled to be paid at their substantive grade and substantive scale point, when working additional hours for NHS Professionals; [41720]
(3) how an NHS employee will accrue additional pension entitlement in return for working additional hours for NHS Professionals; and what is the nature of the enhancement; [41722]
(4) whether NHS Professionals nurses will be entitled to full Whitley council terms and conditions as for permanent staff; and if he will make a statement; [41718]
(5) how an NHS employee will become entitled to additional holiday pay in return for additional hours worked for NHS Professionals; and what the nature is of the addition; [41723]
(6) whether a permanent NHS employee will be entitled to overtime, if additional hours are worked for NHS Professionals over and above a normal full-time working week. [41719]
§ Mr. HuttonNHS Professionals "A co-ordinated, NHS-led approach to temporary staffing" published in November 2001 highlights guidance on pay and conditions for NHS Professionals staff including maternity, sickness, pension and annual leave entitlement.
For maternity and sickness leave statutory provisions apply. Staff have the opportunity to join the NHS Pension Scheme and accrue benefits under the terms of that scheme. The number of days annual leave entitlement is as per the Working Time Regulations and the payments are pro rata to hours worked within a reference period, with staff taking the leave within their NHS Professionals 759W shifts. Salary and grade levels are agreed at the recruitment stage with the understanding that staff have the opportunity to complete shifts below their substantive grade but not over. There is no provision for overtime payments.