§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is his policy to restrict wage increases to staff in the National Health Service within the current budget; and how that budget is fixed.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkePay negotiations in the NHS are conducted by the Whitley Councils, whose management sides take full account of the available funding in framing offers.
My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his statement on public expenditure last autumn that expenditure plans for 1982–83 included a 4 per cent. pay factor for the public services. Subsequently the Government decided to make additional money available for increasing the pay of specific groups of Health Service staff responsible for the direct care and treatment of patients. The overall pay factor for the hospital and community health services is now 5½ per cent., although the total pay bill will rise by more than that if planned increases in staff numbers to provide improved patient services go ahead.