HC Deb 16 January 1984 vol 52 cc115-6W
Dr. Owen

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of national manual hourly earnings are the hourly earnings of (a) National Health Service male manual staff and (b) National Health Service female manual staff.

Mr. John Patten

The percentages, based wholly on data relating to hourly rates including overtime contained in the new earnings survey 1983, are:

Percentages
(a) Male staff
Ambulancemen 103
Ancillaries 78
Maintenance Craftsmen 104
(b) Female staff
Ancillaries 100

The survey results do not reflect the 1983 settlement for maintenance craftsmen. It is estimated that the effect of that settlement would be to increase the figure for that group from 104 to 110 per cent.

Dr. Owen

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of national manual weekly earnings are the weekly earnings of (a) National Health Service male manual staff and (b) National Heath Service female manual staff.

Mr. John Patten

The percentages, based wholly on data contained in the new earnings survey 1983, are:

Percentages
(a) Male staff
Ambulancemen 107
Ancillaries 80
Maintenance Craftsmen 99
(b) Female staff
Ancillaries 102

The survey results do not reflect the 1983 settlement for maintenance craftsmen. It is estimated that the effect of that settlement would be to increase the figure for that group from 99 to 105 per cent.

Dr. Owen

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures showing how increases in wages and salaries of National Health Service staff have compared with increases in average earnings in the rest of the economy since 1979.

Mr. John Patten

The following figures show the overall increases in pay for specified NHS staff groups over the last five pay rounds:

Per cent.
Administrative and clerical staff 68.4
Ambulance staff 80.1
Ancillary staff 62.7
Medical and dental staff 102.1
Nursing and midwifery staff 79
Professions allied to medicine 79

The figures are based on the cost of settlements as estimated at the time of agreement. During the same period, the average earnings index increased by 85.5 per cent., but this figure is not strictly comparable with those shown above as it reflects not only movements in pay rates but also other changes such as levels of overtime working.

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