asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he has given to ensuring that applications by NHS hospital medical staff for the miscellaneous expenses grants are considered on the same basis as those by NHS administrative staff.

The present arrangements for hospital medical staff were agreed between the Health Departments and representatives of the profession. In recent discussions in the Joint Negotiating Committee for Hospital Medical and Dental Staff the Health Departments offered to withdraw the requirement to produce vouchers in support of payments claimed, and to consider other changes on merits and subject to incomes policy consideration.