HC Deb 26 March 1991 vol 188 cc385-6W
Mr. Kennedy

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh nursing clinical grading appeals are currently waiting to be heard at(a) district level. (b) national level and (c) United Kingdom level; and how many appeals have already been completed at each of those levels.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

The information requested in relation to nurse clinical grading appeals in Wales is as follows:

Numbers of appeals
Appeal level Completed Outstanding
District Health Authority 3,725 1,733
Wales Appeals Committee 151 1,188
GB—Negotiating Council 1 80

Mr. Kennedy

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects nursing clinical grading appeals will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

Many more appeals are expected to come through at the all-Wales and negotiating council levels and, in view of the cumbersome and resource-intensive procedures, it is quite impossible to predict when the appeals process will be fully completed. At employing authority level, appeals have been completed in four of the nine districts in Wales. At the all-Wales level, agreement has recently been reached between the Department, management and staff sides on ways and means of speeding up the mechanics and I expect speedier progress to be made.

Mr. Kennedy

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give a breakdown of the total number of nursing clinical grading appeals already heard at national level, stating how many resulted in an appeal being upheld, rejected or a failure to agree.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

Of the 151 appeals heard to date by the Welsh appeals committee the results have been as follows:

Number
Upheld 34
Unsuccessful 4
Failure to agree 113

Mr. Kennedy

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the average cost associated with a single nursing clinical grading appeal hearing at(a) district level, (b) national level and (c) United Kingdom level.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

This information is not available.