Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has had recent discussions with representatives of Unison on (a) levels of pay and (b) employment conditions for NHS contractor staff; and if she will make it her policy to ensure that NHS contractors receive (i) the same (A) levels of pay and (B) employment conditions as their counterparts who are employed directly by the NHS and (ii) are paid at least the living wage recommended by the Living Wage Foundation.

The Secretary of State has recently met with Unison to hear concerns on pay and conditions. Pay and Employment Conditions specifically for National Health Service contractor staff was not discussed.

NHS contractor staff are employed by independent organisations who are free to develop and adopt the terms and conditions of employment, including pay, that best help them attract and keep the staff they need.