§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the salary structure of state-registered medical laboratory scientific officers; and if he will make a statement. [85646]
§ Mr. DenhamThe salary structure for medical laboratory scientific officers is negotiated in the Professional and Technical Staffs Whitley Council. The Council has been discussing MLSO pay in the light of reported recruitment and retention problems and will meet on 10 June to consider the National Health Service management side's offer to substantially improve the pay of Trainee MLSOs, MLSO1s and the starting pay of MLSO2s.
For the longer term, on 15 February 1999 the Health Departments published proposals for modernising the NHS pay system in "Agenda for Change". Discussions have opened between representatives from NHS employers, trades unions and the four Health Departments. We will develop the proposed changes in a spirit of partnership. Our aim is a pay system which gives employers effective ways of rewarding people for taking on more responsibility and developing new skills.