§ Mr. John Browneasked the Prime Minister if, in the discussions being held on the longer-term methods of determining nurses' pay, consideration will be given to treating nurses' pay in a similar manner to that of the police and the armed forces.
§ The Prime MinisterWe are committed to developing long-term arrangements for handling nurses' pay which will work and can be afforded. Following the meeting which the nurses' representatives had in December with myself and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, my right hon. Friend has circulated a paper to both sides of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council outlining possible approaches for settling long term pay arrangements for nurses. I understand that he hopes to discuss the paper with the Whitley Council as soon as possible.