§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the Review Body's fifth report, especially paragraph 25 thereof, she will treat the junior doctors' new contract as part of the 1974–75 pay round, unaffected by the restraints of the present voluntary pay policy applicable to the present 1975–76 pay round.
§ Dr. OwenThis would not be consistent with pay policy which requires that there should be a 12-month interval between pay increases. Junior doctors and dentists received substantial increases in April last year and are not eligible for further general increases until 1st April this year. I am glad to say that their representatives accept that the introduction of their new contract should be consistent with pay policy, and the agreement we reached on 12th December was on that basis.