HC Deb 11 May 1999 vol 331 cc135-6W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend the scope of the EU Working Time Directive to include junior hospital doctors. [83776]

Mr. Denham

The European Commission has proposed an extension of Council Directive 93/104/EC, of 23 November 1993, to encompass the previously excluded sectors, which include junior doctors. This proposal is now being considered by the Council of Member States and the European Parliament. When this extension is agreed, it will be adopted into United Kingdom legislation.

Mr. Denham

All health authority appointments due on 1 April 1999 were completed on time. A small number of appointments to National Health Service trusts and health authorities which expired in 1998 remain vacant. Details are given in the table.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase overtime rates for junior hospital doctors. [83775]

Mr. Denham

Pay rates for junior doctors, including rates for out of hours work, known as additional duty hours, are decided by the independent Doctors' and Dentists' Pay Review Body. Their 28th report, published on 1 February 1999, concluded that

there was no need for changes to the existing working patterns of junior doctors and against that background the existing rates of additional duty hours remain appropriate".

Copies of this report are available in the Library.