§ 30. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Health how many hospital management committees have had to limit their recruitment of nurses because of shortage of funds during the last 12 months.
§ Mr. PowellThe staff recruitment, like the other expenditure, of all authorities is limited by their allocations.
§ Mr. BoydenWhy does not the Minister answer my Question? How many hospital management committees cannot recruit staff because of shortage of funds? If we know how many there are, we can form some assessment whether the funds are adequate.
§ Mr. PowellThe answer is that all authorities must recruit within, and not beyond, the financial allocations available to them.
§ Mr. P. BrowneIs my right hon. Friend aware that there appears to be a conflict of evidence whether or not there is a shortage of nurses? The evidence appears to be of a shortage, particularly in the small hospitals? Will he comment on that?
§ Mr. PowellThere may be difficulties in small and particularly isolated hospitals that do not apply to larger and town hospitals. If my hon. Friend has a case in his constituency, I would be very glad to discuss it with him.
§ Mr. BoydenDoes the Minister say that hospital management committees try to recruit to an extent greater than their medical needs?
§ Mr. PowellNo, Sir. But the progress of the service in every respect is 912 limited, like that of every service, by the rate at which it can expand within the total economy. I am saying that this limitation applies throughout the whole of this, as of any other service.