Oral Answers to Questions

Robert Flello Excerpts

Tuesday 12th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Paul Burstow]

On the day that the Government have confirmed that from October there will be a complete ban on age discrimination within the national health service, except when it can be objectively justified, the answer to the hon. Gentleman’s question is that the evidence used to determine who is eligible for a screening programme is the basis on which recommendations are made to the Government, and they will be extended in future.

[Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Lab)]

7. What assessment he has made of the potential effect of regional pay on recruitment in the NHS.

[Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham, Ladywood) (Lab)]

16. What recent representations he has received on regional pay variation in the NHS.

[The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Andrew Lansley)]

I have not received any such representations. The Government’s evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body shows that market-facing pay has the potential to enable NHS organisations better to achieve their need to recruit and retain staff within the “Agenda for Change” framework for pay. The pay review body will take evidence from all parties and make its recommendations in July.

[Robert Flello]

It can often be harder to work on the NHS front line in more deprived parts of our country, so would the Secretary of State like to join me on a busy Friday night in A and E in Stoke-on-Trent, where he can explain to the staff why their work is worth less than that of someone working in a more affluent part of the country?