§ 81. Major BARNETTasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the new Rule (9a) passed by the General Nursing Council for England and Wales, approved by the Minister of Health and now laid upon the Table of the House, permits the names of nurses to be placed on the State Register of Nurses without direct documentary evidence of their credentials and character, as provided for under the existing rule; whether, as is required by the Nurses Registration Act for England and Wales, Section 6 (3), the General Nursing Council for Scotland has been consulted as to this rule; whether it approves of the compilation of the State Register of Nurses upon indirect information supplied by the secretaries of organised bodies of nurses instead of upon documentary evidence supplied direct to the Council; and whether the General Nursing Council for Scotland will be prepared to admit to its register, under the reciprocity agreement, between the two countries, nurses who have obtained admission to the register for England and Wales without furnishing such evidence?
§ Mr. MUNROThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second and third parts of the question, I understand that the General Nursing Council for Scotland has not been consulted in regard to the proposed rule, and does not approve of it. In answer to the fourth part of the question, my information is that, pending the adjustment of this matter, the General Nursing Council for Scotland has not passed any rule providing for the re-registration on the Council's register of nurses already on the register of the General Nursing Council for England and Wales.
§ Major BARNETTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the General Nursing Council for Scotland has asked for this rule to be withdrawn?
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are other institutions in this country which desire it to be retained?
§ Mr. LYLEIs not the whole object of this Rule (9a) to speed up registration, 227 and is not that exactly what nurses throughout the whole country want?