HC Deb 23 January 2001 vol 361 cc511-2W
Paddy Ashdown

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the real increase was in(a) nurses' pay and

Average daily number of beds in wards open overnight, NHS trusts and units in Somerset Health Authority area and England, 1985 to 1999–2000
East Somerset NHS Trust Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust Somerset Partnership NHS Trust Somerset DHA Total for Somerset HA area England
1985 3,219 3,219 325,487
1986 3,121 3,121 315,715
1987–88 2,951 2,951 297,341
1988–89 2,742 2,742 282,895
1989–90 2,521 2,521 270,309
1990–91 2,429 2,429 255,479
1991–92 559 1,024 646 2,229 242,677
1992–93 508 998 571 2,077 232,201
1993–94 464 955 391 1,810 219,476
1994–95 445 945 441 1,831 211,812
1995–96 418 939 431 1,788 206,136

(b) ancillary staff pay for each of the periods (i) 1978–79 to 1982–83, (ii) 1982–83 to 1986–87, (iii) 1986–87 to 1991–92, (iv) 1991–92 to 1996–97 and (v) 1996–97 to 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [144596]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 18 January 2001]: The table details the real-terms increases in pay for nurses and ancillary staff between 1985–86 and 2001–02.1985–86 is the earliest year for which comparable data are available.

Percentage
Real increase
Nurses and midwives Ancillary staff
1985–86 to 1986–87 5.1 2.9
1986–87 to 1991–92 13.9 1.8
1991–92 to 1996–97 3.2 1.2
1996–97 to 2001–021 6.5 4.1
1 The pay offers for 2001–02 have been included although they are still to be formally accepted

The increases have been calculated using pay settlement data for each year. Figures for 1995–96 and 1996–97 are estimates as these pay settlements contained an element of local flexibility.