§ 58. Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the urgent necessity of attracting more young women for nursing and hospital work, and as inferior conditions have an adverse effect on such recruitment, he will take immediate steps to set up an authority on the lines of the Burnham Committee to lay down a scale of salaries for the nursing profession in accordance with the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Nursing?
§ Mr. ElliotI have the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make any announcement on the subject.
§ Mr. DaviesCan the right hon. Gentleman say when a decision will be arrived at upon the points raised in this question?
§ Mr. ElliotI could not say.
§ Miss WilkinsonIn view of the many appeals being made for young women to come forward as nurses does not the Minister think that the terrible conditions of nursing work in certain hospitals are one of the conditions that are militating against this great national service?
§ Mr. ElliotI have sent a circular round to the responsible authorities, and I think that to speak of "terrible conditions" is rather an over-statement at the present time.
§ Sir Joseph LambIs it not within the recollection of the Minister that when the matter was debated in this House he told me that a decision would be made very shortly?