§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what deadline he has set for all clinical grading appeals by nurses in Wales which are currently outstanding to be dealt with.
§ Mr. GristAppeals against clinical grading decisions are conducted under complex procedures agreed between the staff and management sides of the general Whitley council. The procedures which provide for three separate levels of hearing are resource-intensive for staff and management sides alike and in view of the unprecedented numbers of appeals it is not feasible for any deadline to be 59W set. It is to be regretted that nursing trade unions chose not to pursue the possibility of adopting a simpler and quicker appeals procedures at the time the new structure was negotiated.