HC Deb 22 May 1986 vol 98 cc310-1W
Mr. Baldry

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish for each of the last 10 years, in real terms (i) the annual salary of a state registered nurse, (ii) the year-to-year percentage increases, (iii) the year-to-year rate of inflation, and (iv) the average annual increase in earnings.

Mr. Hayhoe

The following table shows:

  1. 1. the minimum and maximum basic salary for the staff nurse grade for the years 1975–76 to 1985–86;
  2. 2. the Retail Price Index at the mid-point of the settlement period;
  3. 3. the movement in staff nurse salaries measured against this Index, and
  4. 4. information about estimated average earnings for the period from August 1982 to January 1986.

From April 1979 to February 1986 the salary maximum of a staff nurse rose by 112 per cent. compared to an increase of 80 per cent. in the retail price index over the same period. This was over and above the effect (not included in the table) of the reduction in nurses' working hours from 40 to 37½ per week in 1980–81 which was itself equivalent to a further increase of 6.5 per cent. on basic pay.

Start of Settlement period Actual basic salary scale
Minimum Maximum Retail Price Index at mid point of settlement period* Index showing changes in basic pay levels in real terms as measured against RPI of September 1976: 100 Estimated Average Annual Gross Earnings for full-time staff†
£ Percentage Increase £ Percentage Increase Index Percentage Increase Minimum Maximum Per cent.
August 1982¶ 4,998 12.3 6,094 12.3 334.7 9.1 99 99 6,348
April 1984 5,398 8.0 6,582 8.0 355.5 6.2 100 101 7,001
April 1985• 5,708 5.7 6,960 5.7 376.7 6.0 100 100 7,378
February 1986• 6,000 5.1 7,175 3.1 381.1 1.2 104 102 Not available
* As at September except when Settlement period is not equal to 12 months.
† These estimates were compiled on different bases and are therefore not comparable with each other. Includes items other than basic pay, eg overtime, payments for night and weekend duty but excludes London Weighting.
‡ Paid in anticipation of Clegg settlement implemented in August 1979.
| First stage of Clegg award.
¶ Two year settlement operative from 23 August 1982 to 31 March 1984.
• 1985–86 award was implemented in two stages.