§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions have taken place on agreeing a new local disputes procedure for the National Health Service; what agreements have been reached; whether there are further negotiations outstanding; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinI am pleased to report that the General Whitley Council184W single-wage married couple with two children aged 8 years and 12 years, and for a single-wage married couple with three children aged 8, 12 and 17 years, the value of £4 child benefits with the value of family allowance/child benefit plus child tax allowances in April 1960, April 1970, April 1976 and November 1978, assuming (a) standard rate taxpayers in each case, and (b) that the families earned 50 per cent., 75 per cent., and 100 per cent. of average male manual earnings in each case.
§ Mrs. Chalker[pursuant to her reply, 22 January 1980, c. 164]:
for the Health Services (Great Britain) concluded an agreement on local disputes procedures on 28 January. Arrangements for issuing the agreement are being made promptly and I am placing a copy in the Library. The new agreement supplements existing Whitley procedures for handling local disputes about pay and conditions of service or disciplinary action. It will cover other disputes, for example, about manning levels or working arrangements. I am asking health authorities to review their procedures as 185W a matter of urgency and, where necessary, to bring them into line with the new agreement.