§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to accord higher pay and status to medical laboratory scientific officers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonThe pay and grading of National Health Service medical laboratory scientific officers is a matter for the professional and technical staffs a Whitley council. I understand that an offer of a 5 per cent. increase in pay and allowances effective from 1 April 1987 was accepted on 16 November. Discussions are expected to begin shortly on proposals for a comprehensive review of the medical laboratory scientific officer grading structure.
§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider individual representations for 245W medical laboratory scientific officers when he prepares his response to the forthcoming report of the current Whitley B committee.
§ Mr. NewtonI assume my hon. Friend is referring to the planned discussions between the management and staff sides of the professional and technical staffs 'B' Whitley council on proposals for a revised grading structure for medical laboratory scientific officers. MLSOs will be represented in those discussions by the staff side of the Council, but it is open to individuals to make their views known through management channels.