§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average salary of(a) male and (b) female nurses. [92436]
§ Mr. DenhamWe estimate that the average annual basic pay for male and female nurses (qualified and unqualified), after the implementation of the April 1999 pay award, is £15,900 and £16,000 respectively. The national terms and conditions for National Health Service nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff are the same for male and female staff. Therefore, the difference between these figures simply reflects the variations in the grade and seniority mix of male and female nurses.
These estimates are based on the results from the Department's August 1997 Earnings Survey, scaled up to reflect pay awards since August 1997. The figures are the average full-time equivalent basic pay levels i.e. the basic 37W pay of part-time staff was scaled up to that of full-time staff, and exclude payments for overtime and other leads and allowances.