§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the present recruitment and retention position at the Central Public Health Laboratory; and if he will investigate the feasibility of bringing medical laboratory staff within the pay and conditions arrangements of the Pay Review Body structure. [86920]
§ Mr. DenhamMedical Laboratory Scientific Officer staff at the Central Public Health Laboratory are employed by the Public Health Laboratory Service Board. Their recruitment and retention is a matter for that body.
These staff are employed under the Professional and Technical Staffs B Whitley Council terms and conditions, which apply to all similar staff within the National Health Service. The management side of the Whitley Council has made a pay offer for 1999–2000 based on issues specific to these staff, including recruitment and retention, affordability, NHS output targets and the economic context.
We are also discussing with all NHS unions proposals to modernise the NHS pay system published on 15 February 1999 in "Agenda for Change".