HC Deb 01 December 1989 vol 162 cc443-4W
Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of pay was overtime in the National Health Service for nurses and midwives in 1960, 1970, 1979, 1983, 1985 and 1989 or the latest date possible;

(2) what was the amount paid to nurses and midwives, as a total and as an average salary for 1960, 1970, 1979, 1984 and 1989 or the latest date possible; and what was the average working week in hours for nurses and midwives, for those years.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Such information as is available for nursing and midwifery staff (including unqualified staff) in Great Britain is given in the tables. Pay has increased by some 43 per cent. on average since 1979 and is now at one of its highest-ever levels in real terms. The standard working week (excluding meal times) has been reduced from 44 hours to 42 in 1966, to 40 in 1972, and 37.5 in 1980–81.

Table A
Gross Paybill1 £ million Overtime as percentage of Paybill Percentage
1983–84 3,045.0 0.7
1984–85 3,281.0 0.9
1985–86 3,513.2 1.0
1988–89 5,100.7 1.5
1 Excluding London additions and Employers' costs.

Information is not available for earlier years.

Source: Department of Health.

Table B
Average gross weekly earnings, full-time staff Average weekly hours: full-time staff
(£)1
April 1970 19.0 n/a
April 1979 67.8 n/a
April 1984 123.6 37.6
April 1989 222.0 37.9

1 Earnings are for employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was not affected by absence. 1970 and 1979 adult rates on the basis of males aged 21 and over and females aged 18 and over; 1984 and 1989 based on all ages on adult rates.

Equivalent data for 1960 is not available.

Source: DE: New Earnings Survey.