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This reflected both the success of the tactics employed by NUPE to undermine the APAP ballot, and the large number of non- paramedically trained staff in the Association to whom the offer was less attractive than to their trained colleagues.
NHS management had also offered the Unions a Christmas truce, under which emergency crews would receive full pay provided they operated a normal accident and emergency service within TUC guidelines. This offer had been rejected, however. NUPE appeared to be reducing cover in a number of areas, such as Birmingham, and pressures would grow as Christmas approached.
here was a strong possibility that because they did not wish to O over Christmas without pay, ambulance staff would find a ext to withdraw cover in certain areas. The Armed Forces the police and voluntary organisations should nevertheless able to cope over this period and they would be looking to improve the service they provided even further, for example by improving arrangements in the operational control at New Scotland Yard, After Christmas, pressure on union members to settle waldhount as they felt the loss of pay and receipts from pubNocnections diminished. Nevertheless, with all movement so far having come from the management side and none from the Union he dispute seemed likely to run on quite a bit longer.
far
THE PRIME MINISTER, Sming up a brief discussion, said that the offer available to the Ambulance workers, which now included substantial sums inackbay, was a generous one. All Ministers should actively suppose Secretary of State for Health in putting across the reasonableness of the management position to the public and the media
The Cabinet
Took note.
NFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Vietnamese Boat People
Previous Reference: OC(89) 36.3
compulsory
THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY said that there would be a debate in the House of Commons about the Vietnamese boat people later in the day. The introducti repatriation had caused difficulties but it had nevertheless gone better than it might have done, partiary with regard to the reaction in the United States. As far enteers for repatriation were concerned, there would be one further flight before Christmas and one just before the New Ye Arrangements were also in hand for further compulsory repatriationafter Christmas, but the timing had yet to be decided.
One
consideration was the retention of Lord Ennals as a portyor of the treatment of returnees. Despite the measures tha
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