§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many resignations have been received from special grades engaged in catering, domestic, laundry and farm management within the National Health Service during the year ended 31st December 1974; how many posts are now vacant; what action she proposes to take to fill them; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenI regret that this information is not held centrally. Recruitment is a matter for individual employing authorities but I am establishing shortly a national staff committee for accommodation, catering and support services staff to advise me on the recruitment, training and career development of these special grades.
§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations she has received from NALGO with regard to revised grading structures and bandings for all catering management within the National Health Service; whether she will now consider linking all special grades to the administrative and clerical grades at comparable salaries for the responsibilities which they bear; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenNALGO is one of the constituent members of the Staff Side of the National Health Service Administrative and Clerical Staffs Whitley Council which has submitted a claim for regrading the catering and other special grades with a view to assimilating them within the main administrative and clerical pay structure. Discussions on the claim are in progress in the Whitley Council.