§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost of paying National Health Service staff a pay increase (a) of 3 per cent. and (b) in line with inflation.
§ Mr. John PattenA pay increase of 3 per cent. to all staff employed by all health authorities in England is estimated to cost some £190 million. A pay increase of 5.1 283W per cent. in line with the latest annual movement in the retail prices index (February 1984), is estimated to cost some £320 million.