§ Mr. Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list the groups of public sector employees in whose pay-settlements his Department is involved; whether those settlements are at national or local level; which of those settlements are usually influenced by the findings of the Pay Research Unit and how; and what was the percentage increase in the earnings of each group in 1974, 1975 and 1976.
§ Mr. DeakinsThere are 34 main groups of staff in whose pay settlements my Department is involved; they include a wide range of medical, professional, scientific, administrative and ancillary staffs. All settlements are made at national level. The settlements for some groups are influenced by settlements in the Civil Service, and elsewhere, although there is no direct link with the Pay Research Unit.
The percentage increase in earnings are not available for all groups; the percentage increase in basic salaries of each group in each of the years requested cannot be provided without disproportionate effort, but as an illustration the average percentage increases for staff within the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council were 37.9 per cent. in 1974, 16.8 per cent. in 1975 and 13.9 per cent. in 1976.