§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list the scales of pay for hospital porters employed by the National Health Service in each of the years 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1974.
§ Dr. OwenThe following is the information requested:
Health Service in each of the years 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1974.
§ Dr. OwenThe scales of pay for staff nurses and ward sisters employed in general hospitals for the years in question are given below. Higher scales apply in psychiatric hospitals and, since 1968, in geriatric and chronic sick hospitals.
There is no Whitley grade of theatre sisters; salary scales depends on the responsibilities of the post and is at ward sister level or above. The grade of Matron no longer exists in significant numbers and information about the grade-categories of those remaining is not available.
83W
§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what promise she has made to the nurses that they will receive an interim pay award before Lord Halsbury's inquiry has reported.
§ Mrs. CastleI have made no such promise. Lord Halsbury expects that his inquiry will report by the late summer but cannot be more precise until he has studied the evidence. He has told me that he will give me a firm date at the end of this month. Should it then appear that the report will be seriously delayed I shall consider asking him to make an interim recommendation.