§ 14. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many vacancies there are in the medical and nursing staff of the Medical and Health Department in Brunei; what efforts are being made by the Government to recruit this staff; and how the salaries offered by the Government of Brunei compare with those offered by the Government of the Federation of Malaya to doctors and nurses with the same qualifications.
§ Mr. LytteltonVacancies exist at present for one medical officer, one dental officer, one Matron, Grade II, one sister tutor, one senior staff nurse, six staff nurses, three trained nurses and five probationer nurses.
2081 The medical officer and dental officer vacancies will be filled in March; five trained nurses are due in March; arrangements for recruiting a matron and nursing sister are well advanced and are in hand for recruiting a sister tutor.
As the answer to the last part of this Question is rather long, I will circulate
it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. RankinCan the right hon. Gentleman say how, on the average, the respective salaries compare? Are those In Brunei significantly lower than those paid in Malaya?
§ Mr. LytteltonThey are less.
§ Mr. RankinSignificantly less?
§ Mr. LytteltonI do not want to give a false impression. The maximum scale for a doctor in the Federation who is married and has children is £2,730, and in Brunei £2,093.
Following is the answer to the last part of the Question:
A doctor who is married and has children, and who does not hold recognised higher qualifications receives gross emoluments as follows:
— Federation of Malaya Brunei £ s. d. £ s. d. Minimum of scale 1,733 4 0 1,400 0 0 Maximum of scale 2,730 0 0 2,093 0 0 A nursing sister with qualifications registrable in the United Kingdom receives the following gross emoluments:
— Federation of Malaya Brunei £ s. d. £ s. d. Minimum of scale 866 12 0 686 0 0 Maximum of scale 1,085 0 0 840 0 0 In both the Federation of Malaya and in Brunei nursing sisters are provided with free quarters.