§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 26 February 2004,Official Report,column 537W, on "Agenda for Change", to what extent there will be flexibility for individual employers to pay recruitment and retention premiums. [159738]
§ Mr. HuttonUnder the proposed new national health service pay system, "Agenda for Change", NHS employers will be able to pay recruitment and retention premiums to individual postholders or groups of postholders where market pressures would otherwise prevent employers from being able to recruit and retain staff in sufficient numbers. Before paying recruitment and retention premia, NHS employers will need to1594W satisfy themselves that agreed criteria have been met and will need to have consulted with staff representatives, neighbouring employers, strategic health authorities and other stakeholders.