§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to the relationship between difficulties experienced in the recruitment and retention of medical physicists, clinical biochemists, micro-biologists and psychologists in Northern Ireland and similar difficulties in Great Britain; and whether he has received any recent representations or information on this.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 24 July 1989]: I have received some representations about pay and conditions of service for these groups of staff. In Northern Ireland there is, as for other staff groups in the health and personal social services, a policy of parity with similar grades of staff employed in the National Health Service. In Great Britain, I understand that the management side of the appropriate Whitley Council has set up a working party to investigate reported problems of recruitment and retention. I shall, of course, be keeping in close touch with developments.
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he intends to take to ensure that the commit ment given in "Working for Patients" to maintain a health care service based on high technology includes measures to recruit and retain scientific staff to operate the service.