§ 46. Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which health authorities have included or wish to include a requirement that private contractors shall pay fair wages to those engaged in work for such authorities.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe are aware of 14 health authorities which are still trying to specify requirements for pay rates, sickness benefits, pension entitlements or other conditions of contractors' staff when putting their114W domestic, catering and laundry services out to tender. The description of these requirements as "fair wages" clauses is tendentious and meaningless. We have asked regional chairmen to ensure the removal of these requirements which are an unreasonable interference in the relationship between contractors and their employees at the expense of the National Health Service. The health authorities concerned are:
Barnsley Rotherham Calderdale Salford Central Birmingham South Birmingham East Birmingham South Warwickshire East Yorkshire Trafford Grimsby West Cumbria Paddington/North Kensington Wolverhampton