§ 29. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the industrial action being taken by National Health Service employees in Scotland.
§ Mr. John MacKayI very much regret that industrial action, primarily involving hospital ancillary workers, continues to disrupt the normal provision of health services in certain areas of the country. While some areas remain largely unaffected, in others the impact varies from interruption of normal patterns for the admission of patients and day hospital provision to a few instances where there has been interference with vital services for the seriously ill. There can be no level of disruption to treatment and care for those who are ill which can be regarded as being acceptable. I hope those staff taking such action in pursuit of a wholly unrealistic claim for a 12 per cent. increase will return to normal working.