§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the circular NHSSAC 2/73 of the National Health Service Staff Advisory Committee was approved by him; on what grounds senior posts with the new regional and area health authorities have been banned to applicants from the postgraduate teaching hospitals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephThe circular sets out advice by the Staff Advisory Committee which, as it states, was accepted by me. The committee is charged with responsibility for safeguarding the interests of the staff of the merging services. It has adopted the principle that none of those whose jobs in the existing service will disappear on the appointed day should feel that he had suffered because another officer whose post was not in danger had been enabled to compete. The committee's advice relates to initial appointments to top medical, nursing, works, financial, administrative, personnel, and ambulance posts and the committee expects that 55W normal appointment arrangements will be resumed after reorganisation is complete.