§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to complete the reorganisation of the Health Service of April 1974, in that works staff below second-in-line employed at regional health authorities have been refused revised pay and conditions of service arising from that reorganisation, notwithstanding the letter from the Minister of State in his Department to the staff side of councils PTB committee F, dated 7 December 1979.
§ Dr. VaughanI regret that this claim has been outstanding for so long in spite of considerable study in the Whitley Council. Negotiations are, however, continuing and I very much hope that a settlement will soon be reached. As I have made clear to both sides of the Whitley Council, the claim is a matter for negotiation within the NHS cash limit.