Well, I have to say to the First Minister that I spoke to the RCN this morning, and the position that you've outlined I think does not give the real picture—as they see it, certainly—because what they've said is they wanted to talk to the Government about an across-the-board pay increase and you've refused to engage with them on that. You're not convening the pay negotiating committee of the NHS partnership forum, and yet you're supposed to be the Government of social partnership. Why aren't you practicing it?

Now, the reason this is important and urgent is, as we know, inflation as measured by the consumer prices index is currently running at 3.2 per cent—4.8 per cent if you use the retail price index. It's set to increase even further. Do you accept the view of the unions—all of the unions—and, indeed, even the leader of the British Labour Party, that a pay rise offer of 3 per cent now represents a real-terms pay cut? Wouldn't this, in the wake of the heroic sacrifice over the last 18 months, be a kick in the teeth for thousands of healthcare workers?