§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of the recent publication of the recommendations of the committee on police pay, he will adopt a 10.3 per cent. increase for the health workers or agree to the same committee that investigated the pay for police to investigate the pay for the health workers.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke:The net pay increase this year for police officers up to and including the rank of chief inspector is around 5.6 per cent. taking into account the increase in pensions contributions. Health Service staff have been offered pay increases of 6 per cent. to 7½ per 230W cent. for this year. The proposals put to the Health Service unions and professional bodies on 16 September offered a two-year settlement paving the way for the introduction of new arrangements for determing the pay of non-medical staff. So far the TUC health services committee has refused to join talks on those proposals.