§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether funds for health authorities to meet the additional costs of the nurses' pay awards are being allocated on the basis of nursing staff in post or on the basis of nursing establishments; and what year is being taken as a basis for the funding of the nurses' pay award;
(2) whether he intends that resources to fund the additional costs of the nurses' pay award will be allocated by all regions on the same basis; and what guidance he has issued to regions on the allocation to districts of these resources.
§ Mrs. Currie[holding answer 9 May 1988]: The cost of the review body awards was calculated from information derived from health authorities' pay bill estimates based on the number of staff in post at 31 March 1988. Account was also taken of the review bodies' estimates of the average percentage increase for each staff group.
The additional funds provided to health authorities were to meet the cost of all review body awards: no sum was specifically earmarked for the nurses' pay award. The sum available to regional health authorities was allocated in proportion to their 1988–89 initial revenue cash limits. It is for each region to determine how to distribute those funds amongst its districts.
The guidance issued has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has about the problems that the Wirral health authority faces with regard to the nurses' pay award; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 27 July.