§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Health (1) if he will consult the representative organisations which cater for people engaged in the hospital service with a view to making arrangements to give them satisfaction on status and salaries; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will grant an interim weekly payment pending a final settlement to all people engaged in the hospital service who receive less than £17 per week; and if he will set out in tabular form, for each grade which receives less than £17 per week, the amount received each week and the value of their weekly payment expressed in terms of purchasing power as at 1st January, 1950.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe pay and conditions of service of hospital staff are matters in the first instance for the Whitley Councils, the Staff Sides of which are composed of representatives of Trade Unions and other staff organisations. 281W Information about earnings of staff in different grades is not available but I will write to my hon. Friend about staff whose negotiated rates of pay are less than £17 a week.