asked the Minister for Health if he intends to introduce equality in respect of the percentage contributions paid by male and female members of the medical profession under the common contract scheme for consultants.
Written Answers. - Contract Scheme for Consultants.
378.
I presume that the Deputy is referring to the fact that male consultants pay a higher contribution for pension purposes; they pay an extra 1½ per cent of their pensionable remuneration for a special widows and orphans scheme.
The majority of the staffs in the health sector are employed by the health boards and health corporate bodies which come under the local authority superannuation code.
One of the recommendations in a working party report on superannuation, which is at present being considered by the Minister for the Environment, (who is responsible for the local authority superannuation scheme) is that the special widows and orphans scheme should be extended to the female staff and be made a spouses scheme. I expect the Minister for the Environment to make an early decision in the matter and I hope then to be in a position to amend the Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme which comes under my jurisdiction.