§ Mr. AshtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will make extra money available to the Bassetlaw health authority for the underfunding of pay awards to staff, the additional cost of hiring junior medical locum staff from agencies, new and additional consultant staff posts, an increase of stock levels in certain areas and increased levels of activity in a number of services;
(2) whether he will make an extra allocation of £700,000 to Bassetlaw area health authority to prevent the closure of wards in Retford and Worksop hospitals
Average weekly earnings: Male manual workers (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Date Earnings rule Gross Net Column (2) as a percentage of column (3) Per cent. Column (2) as a percentage of column (4) Per cent. £ £ £ November 1984 70.00 159.60 108.90 43.9 64.3 November 1985 75.00 168.70 115.60 44.5 64.9 July 1986 75.00 176.20 122.30 42.6 61.3 April 1987 75.00 185.50 131.30 40.4 57.1
§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to abolish the earnings rule for retirement pensions.
§ Mr. ScottWe do not feel able at present to give this issue priority over other claims on resources.