§ 67. Dr. CHAPPLEasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, under Section 3 (2) (c) of The Nurses Registration Act, 1919, rules are to be made enabling persons who have been 1032 bona fide engaged in practice as nurses under certain conditions to be admitted to the register, providing application is made within a period of two years after the date on which a rule first comes into operation, and that a rule first came into operation on 7th July, 1923; can he now say whether persons to whom this rule applies may, if otherwise qualified, be admitted to the register; and whether he has satisfied himself that the General Nursing Council is Correctly interpreting the Act and the new rule?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. Member has not quoted the Act correctly. The wording of the Section in question is "the date on which the rules to be made under the provisions of this paragraph first come into operation," and I am advised that the effect of the provision is to allow a period of two years from the date when the first body of rules came into operation. This date was the 14th July, 1921, and the two years period having now expired, the General Nursing Council have no power to admit further applications for registration as existing nurses.