§ 33. Mr. Rees-Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the event of industrial action by employees in the Health Service continuing, he will take all steps to ensure that employers take action in 367W accordance with the provisions of the Employment Act to prevent unlawful picketing in or adjacent to hospital premises.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIt is up to individual employers to decide whether to seek redress through the courts. They may well do so if illegal action causes practical damage to the service or hardship to patients. Most of the so-called secondary picketing so far experienced has been political publicity-seeking and, in itself, has had no practical effect on the service to patients.
§ 44. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement on the industrial dispute in the National Health Service.
§ Mr. FowlerI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) earlier today.
§ 55. Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the effects on waiting lists of the National Health Service dispute.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeInevitably any disruption of services which denies admission to hospital must lengthen the time patients have to wait for operations and other treatment. It will also increase the numbers on in-patient waiting lists and will cause hardship to people who have to wait longer for relief from pain or illness. We do not yet have statistics to enable us to state the precise effect on waiting lists of the strikes so far.
§ 75. Dr. Glynasked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent industrial action in the National Health Service is impeding the supply of essential surgical, medical and ancillary materials and other services in hospitals such as St. Thomas's hospital, London, SE1.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeA large number of operations and admissions have had to be postponed due to disruptive
Table A. Nursing and Midwifery staff—Average Weekly Earnings 1978–79 1979–80 (excluding Clegg) 1979–80 (Before 2nd stage of Clegg) 1979–80 (Including full Clegg award) 1980–81 1981–82 £66.30 £72.26 £79.92 £87.91 £99.90 £105.90 Notes:
1. Figures include all qualified and unqualified nurses and midwives employed in the NHS including students but excluding agency nurses.
2. The Clegg award was paid in two stages, in August 1979 and April 1980.
3. In 1980/81 nurses' working hours were reduced from 40 to 37½ per week.
Table B. All Workers and Non-Manual Workers — Average Weekly Earnings* All Workers Non-Manual Men Women Men Women £. Movement over 1974 £. Movement over 1974 £. Movement over 1974 £. Movement over 1974. 1974 47.7 100.00 26.9 100.00 54.4 100.00 28.6 100.00 1978 89.1 186.79 56.4 209.67 100.7 185.11 59.1 206.64 1979 101.4 212.58 63.0 234.20 113.0 207.72 66.0 230.77 1980 124.5 261.01 78.8 292.94 141.3 259.74 82.7 289.16 1981 140.5 294.55 91.4 339.78 163.1 299.82 96.7 338.11 *Notes: Figures exclude those affected by absence. Sources: New Earnings Survey (Table 1) and Employment Gazette (Table 5.6)
368Waction in hospitals and strikes in central sterile supply departments, stores and laundries. Many hospitals however continue to function almost normally.