§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will improve the structure of nurses' pay sufficiently to attract an adequate number of young nurses into the profession.
§ Mr. NewtonThe pay of all grades of nursing and midwifery staff is decided in the light of the recommendations of the independent review body for nursing staff, midwives, health visitors and professions allied to medicine. Since 1984 nurses have received an increase of over 11 per cent. in real terms. I understand that the review body has begun taking evidence for the 1987–88 pay round.
Meanwhile the management and staff sides of the nursing and mid-wifery staffs negotiating council are engaged in a review of the grading structure for clinical nurses and midwives, the results of which will in due course be reported to the review body for pricing.