To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average increase in weekly pay for nurses in Scotland following the increase approved in April.

The Government's acceptance of the recommendations made by the Nurses' Pay Review Body this year will result in a wide range of pay increases from 4·2 per cent. to 33·6 per cent. with the largest percentage increases going to staff covered by the new clinical grading structure. For individuals with posts in the new clinical grading structure the outcome will be dependent on their placing within it but the total cost of this year's award has been estimated as 14·5 per cent. excluding the cost of London supplements. Examples of annual salaries for nursing staff in direct patient care areas from 1 April 1988 are shown in the table in terms of scale minima and maxima. The salaries payable from 1 April 1987 are shown for comparison, as are the equivalent gross increases in weekly pay.