§ Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his Department's decision not fully to fund the 1984 nurses' pay award; and if he will estimate the number of whole-time equivalent nursing jobs he expects local health authorities to shed to meet the pay commitment.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Government have increased the allocations to health authorities to meet some 80 per cent. of the extra cost, over and above cash limit provision, of the 1984 nurses' pay award. The balance of the cost to health authorities will be met from their planned cost improvement programmes.
The number of jobs in the NHS is determined by the need to deliver more and better quality patient services in the most cost-effective way within the resources available. Pay increases are only one factor in the overall pattern and we cannot make any sensible estimate of the kind requested.