§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department intends to fund fully the cost to the health authorities of the increase in the hourly rate of pay of ancillary workers resulting from the reduction in the working week from 40 to 39 hours; and if he will make a statement.
329W
§ Mr. MellorThe reduction of one hour in the hours of the standard working week from 12 December was part of the settlement agreed for improvements in the pay and conditions of service of National Health Service ancillary staff for 1988–89. Health authorities are expected to plan flexibly to meet pay increases and other costs from within the pool of resources available to them. This pool includes their increased cash allocations for the year, cost improvement savings and funds raised through income generation schemes.