HC Deb 27 February 1973 vol 851 cc321-2W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what reasons were given to him by the staff side appointed by him on the Whitley Council for refusing arbitration in the dispute which exists on the inadequate insurance cover for young doctors and their wives in the event of death resulting from their medical service within the National Health Service;

(2) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the members serving on the Joint Negotiating Committee considering the inadequate cover for young doctors who may die when on special duty; when this matter was first raised; how many meetings have discussed this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Sir K. Joseph

Negotiations between the Department and representatives of National Health Service staff interests as a whole—including all National Health Service medical staff—for improvements in the existing National Health Service injury allowance provisions are at an advanced stage, and it is anticipated that the substantial increases in the rates of allowance and the other improvements likely to result for all staff from these negotiations will be applied retrospectively from 25th May 1972.

A separate claim that the injury allowances of junior hospital doctors should be linked with their future potential earnings as consultants or general practitioners rather than with their current salaries was made formally and in detail in May 1972 in the Joint Negotiating Committee. This is the forum in which negotiations on the remuneration and terms and conditions of service for hospital doctors and dentists are now conducted, and in which the management side is represented by officials from the health departments and the staff side by the negotiating subcommittee of the Cen- tral Committee for Hospital Medical Services of the British Medical Association. The claim has been referred to at four meetings of the committee, as well as at an additional informal meeting, and at three meetings between myself and representatives of the medical profession. It has wide and complex implications which, together with the request by the professions' representatives that I should join them in applying for arbitration on the matter, require and are being given full and careful consideration: I hope to reply to it shortly.