HC Deb 24 May 1990 vol 173 cc331-2W
Mr. Channon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the qualifications required for a National Health Service dental technician.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Dental technicians are graded as medical technical officers (MTOs). The Whitley council agreement requires that MTOs should hold a Business and Technical Education Council/Scottish Vocational Educational Council qualification, City and Guilds or other suitable technical qualification in an appropriate discipline.

Mr. Channon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the scales of pay for National Health Service(a) dental surgeon assistants and (b) dental technicians.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The pay and conditions of service of these groups are matters for negotiation by the Professional and Technical Staffs B Whitley council.

Current rates for dental surgery assistants (DSAs) effective from 1 July 1989, are set out in the table:

Student DSA DSA Senior Tutor
£ Age £ £ £
3,885 16 5,523 5,875 7,291
4,089 17 5,797 6,187 7,622
4,513 18 6,063 6,598 7,934
4,671 19 6,319 6,959 8,238
4,816 20 6,567 7,310 8,558
4,964 21 and over 7,025 7,647 8,869
5,118 — — — —
5,267 — — — —
5,499 — — — —

I understand that negotiations on the staff side's pay claim for this group have not yet started.

Dental technicians are graded as medical technical officers (MTOs). Current rates of pay, effective from 1 September 1989 following a grade restructuring, are set out in the table:

Trainee MTO1 MTO2 MTO3 MTO4 MTO5
£ £ £ £ £ £
4,743 6,751 8,542 11,241 13,676 16,639
4,933 7,021 8,884 11,690 14,223 17,304
5,130 7,302 9,239 12,158 14,792 17,996
5,335 7,594 9,608 12,644 15,383 18,716
5,549 7,897 9,993 13,150 15,999 19,465
5,771 8,213 10,392 113,676 116,639 120,244
6,001 18,542 10,808 114,223 117,304 121,053
— 18,884 111,241 114,792 117,996 121,895
— 19,239 111,690 — — —
— — 112,158 — — —
1 Salary points are for use when salary scales have been advanced to recognise special skills or additional responsibilities.

I understand negotiations on the staff side's pay claim for this group are continuing.