§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on current consideration of the pay and conditions of nurses and midwives in the National Health Service.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe pay of nurses and midwives is determined in the light of recommendations from the independent pay review body for nursing staff, midwives, health visitors and professions allied to medicine. Conditions of service are a matter for the Nursing and Midwifery Staffs Negotiating Council and the general Whitley council.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced the Government's decisions on pay for staff in the clinical and education grades in 1990–91 on 1 February at columns 260–62. The review body intends to make recommendations on pay levels for senior nurse managers in a supplementary report when the negotiating council has completed its review of the structure for these staff.
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§ Ms. QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he has received any recent representations from within the midwifery profession or from other organisations about the need for a career structure for midwifery managers;
(2) if he has made proposals regarding pay and grading structure for midwifery managers.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWe have received a small number of representations from senior midwives about the need for a new structure.
A joint working group of the Nursing and Midwifery Staffs Negotiating Council has recently concluded negotiations on a new structure for senior nurses and senior midwives. A final offer has been made to the staff side, who are currently consulting their members.