§ Mr. Hodgsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many area health authorities have recently concluded agreements with strike committees or other employee representatives under which employees who refuse to perform a substantial part of their duties still receive their normal weekly wage.
§ Mr. DeakinsFull information is not available centrally. I have made it clear that it is in general a matter for local 283W management decision as to how best to maintain essential services to patients in the face of disruptive working. In these circumstances, it is known that a large number of authorities are maintaining basic pay for some staff who are not working normally, although the total number of such staff represents only a small proportion of the ancillary workers in the Heath Service.