§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a staff charter for staff working in the NHS, to cover(a) working conditions, (b) catering facilities, (c) housing and transport and (d) safety. [4570]
§ Mr. HuttonThe improving working lives standard commits all National Health Service employers to improve all aspects of the working lives of all staff groups in the NHS. The NHS Plan sets a target for all NHS employers to be accredited as putting the improving working lives standard into practice by April 2003. NHS employers will be assessed against this standard. All NHS trusts have achieved the first stage towards full accreditation against the improving working lives standard. A copy of the standard is available in the Library