Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Health – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 December 1960.
Mrs Barbara Castle
, Blackburn
12:00,
12 December 1960
asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to alleviate the shortage of radiographers in the National Health Service.
Miss Edith Pitt
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
Steps taken include the extension of training facilities and the payment of training grants. The number of radiographers in training increased by one-third in the last two years.
Mrs Barbara Castle
, Blackburn
Would not the hon. Lady agree that there is a very real shortage of radiographers in the National Health Service? Is it not due to low rates of pay and poor financial prospects in the National Health Service, which means that many men radiographers, in particular, are being attracted into industry? Although this is a matter for the Whitley Council, will not the Ministry state publicly that something ought to be done about these low salaries?
Miss Edith Pitt
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
There is a shortage, again in part due to the competing claims for the services of girls, and this is mainly a women's profession. The Staff Side of the Whitley Council has just put in another application for an increase—the last was in February, 1959—and it is to be considered by the Whitley Council.
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Warrington
What is the starting salary of a radiographer?
Miss Edith Pitt
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
I have not got that information, but if the right hon. Lady will put down a Question I will look into it.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
