§ Mr. SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what study he has made of the effects of regional differentials in levels of pay for medical secretaries on the recruitment and retention of such staff in the Borders region.
§ Mr. RifkindI have made no such study.
§ Mr. SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the pay levels of medical secretaries.
§ Mr. RifkindOver the last two years, I have received a number of letters on this matter, both from individual medical secretaries and from hon. and right hon. Members writing on their behalf.
I have explained that health boards are able to use their discretion to upgrade medical secretaries' pay to the highest salary available, but essentially the matter is one for the boards to decide.