§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the policies of Her Majesty's Government on regrading for nurses.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyA new grading structure for clinical nursing and midwifery staff was agreed by the Nursing and Midwifery Staffs Negotiating Council (NMNC) in 1988, and staff were regraded on the basis of the new structure. Appeals against regrading decisions are being dealt with under agreed procedures, and the NM NC is currently considering whether any changes can be made to those procedures in order to expedite the hearing of appeals. I understand that the management side of the NMNC has no current plans to propose any changes to the grading structure itself.