§ 15. Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement about the pay dispute in the National Health Service.
§ Mr. YoungerI refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services on Tuesday 9 November. Since then the management side of the nurses and midwives Whitley Council has offered a two-year settlement which includes the 7½ per cent. increase previously offered for this year,212W together with an additional 4½ per cent. available for increases in 1983–84. This offer which would last to the end of March 1984 is now being considered by the constituent organisations on the staff side. The unions representing other groups of NHS staff are at present considering the terms on which they also might have a two-year settlement.