HC Deb 13 July 1982 vol 27 cc368-9W
34. Mr. Woolmer

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the pay offer to nurses will be paid for from the existing allocations to regional health authorities.

57. Mr. Haynes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the pay offer to Health Service workers will be paid for by the allocation of new money to the Health Service.

Mr. Fowler

I refer the hon. Members to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove and Redditch (Mr. Miller) and the hon. Member for Warrington (Mr. Hoyle) earlier today.

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the figures for the average earnings of all nurses for 1978–79, 1979–80 (before the first part of the Clegg award), 1979–80 (before the second part of the Clegg award) 1979–80 (including both parts of the Clegg award) 1980–81 and 1981–82; if he will also index these figures using the 1974 Halsbury settlement, as implemented by the nurses and midwives Whitley council; and if he will publish comparative figures for (i) all workers and (ii) non-manual workers for the corresponding periods.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The information requested in the first part of the question is set out at table A. Comparable earnings data are not available for earlier years; however, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton) on 18 May—[Vol. 24, c.80–81.] Information on average earnings for all workers and for non-manual workers for the years 1974 and 1978–81 is at table B.

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures to show what effect his present offer to nurses would have if it were accepted; and what the relative position would then be to average non-manual earnings and to average earnings of all workers for the current year.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Average weekly earnings for all nursing and midwifery staff, including students and unqualified staff but excluding agency nurses, were £105.90 in 1981–82. The present offer of 7.5 per cent. overall would increase this figure to £113.84. The latest available information on all workers' earnings is in the 1981 new earnings survey and is as follows:

Men Women
£ £
Average non-manual earnings (weekly) 163.10 96.70
Average earnings—all workers (weekly) 140.50 91.40