§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in the National Health Service(a) are and (b) are not employed on terms set by pay review bodies; and if he will make a statement on the annual pay rises for 1998–99 to be awarded to each group of workers. [41479]
§ Mr. MilburnAt September 1996, there was an estimated 435,000 (whole time equivalents) staff employed by the National Health Service hospital and community health services in England whose pay is subject to recommendations of the review bodies, and 329,000 (whole time equivalents) non-review body staff.
Hospital and community health service doctors and dentists received an increase of 2 per cent. from 1 April 1998 and will receive a further 2.2 per cent. from 1 December 1998. An additional 0.35 per cent., as recommended by the Doctors and Dentists Review Body last year, was also paid from 1 April 1998.
Nurses and the professions allied to medicine have been offered 2 per cent. from 1 April 1998 with a further 1.8 per cent. from 1 December 1998.
Non-review body staff are being offered a pay rise which matches the award to nurses and the professions allied to medicine.