§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister what discussions took place with the nurses on 29 May at 10 Downing Street; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterI met representatives of the staff side of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley council on 29 May. They asked for Government agreement to an increase in the general 1980–81 public sector cash limit increase figure of 14 per cent., within which negotiations had been taking place for the nurses' main 1980 pay settlement. They referred particularly to the Government's decision to implement the recommendations in the recent report by the Doctors and Dentists Review Body. I pointed out to the nurses' representatives that the Government have fully discharged the undertakings on pay which we gave to nurses when we arrived in office. Indeed, we have gone further, by making concessions on some minor points, and a major concession to allow a reduction in the working week. As a result, by the time the 1980 negotiations are completed, the total pay bill for nurses and midwives will have increased from £1,600 million to £2,400 million since we arrived in office, a 50 per cent, increase, almost all of which is for improvements in pay, allowances and conditions of service.
There has been no disparity of treatment overall between doctors and nurses. Since the catching-up process began for both groups in 1978 until the end of the current negotiations, the total nursing pay bill has increased by 65½ per cent., while doctors' total earnings have increased by 66 per cent.