HC Deb 02 February 2004 vol 417 cc692-3W
Mr. Norman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the costs(a) are of establishing and (b) were estimated to be in each of the next five years of running the NHS Staff Council. [151149]

Mr. Hutton

There are not expected to be any additional costs involved in establishing or running the proposed new NHS Staff Council. The NHS Staff Council and the new Pay Negotiating Council for non-Review Body staff will between them replace the General Whitley Council and 11 functional Whitley Councils and other negotiating bodies for different national health service staff groups. This is expected to result in a more streamlined and efficient system for overseeing NHS pay issues and agreeing future changes to pay, terms and conditions.