HC Deb 29 March 1988 vol 130 cc448-9W
Mr. John

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will include medical laboratory scientific officers in the remit of the special bodies considering other salaries within the National Health Service.

Mr. Newton

The salaries of medical laboratory scientific officers are a matter for negotiation in the professional and technical staffs B Whitley council.

Mr. John

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many principal medical laboratory scientific officers there are in England and Wales in the National Health Service; and whether he has any plans to alter that number.

Mr. Newton

The number of principal medical laboratory scientific officers in post in England on 30 September 1986 was 90 (whole-time equivalents). The number is dependent upon the requirements of individual health authorities; grading is determined according to criteria laid down in the agreements of the professional and technical staffs B Whitley council. Figures for Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Mr. John

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the grades of medical laboratory scientific officers; what is the maximum salary for each grade; and after what length of service such maximum is achieved.

Mr. Newton

The information in respect of qualified medical laboratory scientific officer grades is as follows:

Grade Salary maximum £ Annual incremental points
Medical laboratory scientific officer 9,435 10
Senior medical laboratory scientific officer 11,577 10
Chief medical laboratory scientific officer 12,663 6
Senior chief medical laboratory scientific officer 14,963 6
Principal medical laboratory scientific officer 17,201 2

Note: The salary scale point to which an officer may be appointed or promoted is determined by Whitley council agreement.

Mr. John

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the rate of turnover of medical laboratory scientific officers in the National Health Service for each of the last three years.

Mr. Newton

This information is not available centrally. The number of qualified medical laboratory scientific officers in post in England for each of the last three years for which figures are available is as follows:

NHS Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers (at 30 September each year)
Year Staff in Post Whole Time Equivalents (England) Staff
1984 10,650
1985 10,930
1986 11,060

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