§ Sir Anthony GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue an instruction to the official side of the Whitley council to negotiate the pay of laboratory scientific officers in the National Health Service on the same basis as employees engaged in therapy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonThe pay of most staff engaged in therapy is the subject of recommendations by the pay review bodies, rather than negotiation, and I do not think it would be appropriate to constrain the Whitley Council negotiating arrangements in the way my hon. Friend appears to have in mind. However, I understand that the relevant council will embark on negotiations about a new pay and grading structure for medical laboratory scientific officers in the new year.