§ Mr. SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the pay and career structure of operating department assistants; and what action he intends to take.
§ Mr. MellorThe pay and career structure of operating department assistants are for negotiation in the professional and technical staffs B Whitley council. A settlement was reached on 19 October. Before that we had received numerous letters from hon. and right hon. Members and individual operating department assistants. I understand that the management side has set up a working party to consider reports of difficulties within staff groups covered by negotiating committee E which includes operating department assistants.