§ 17. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister of Health if he will review Ministry of Health Circulars H.M. (68) 104 and H.M. (63) 37 and remove the discrimination contained therein against second-year nursing cadets.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI do not think there is unfair discrimination, but I will keep the matter under review.
§ Mrs. ShortIs my right hon. Friend aware that a second-year nursing cadet loses some £30 a year from her salary if she spends two days in college and three and a half days in hospital? Does he not think that this is an unfair discrimination against the older nursing cadets—the girl who already has one year's experience and who presumably is doing more responsible work in the hospital? In view of the need to encourage more girls to come forward into nursing, does he not think that this niggardly deduction could be removed at very little cost to the National Health Service?
§ Mr. RobinsonI am aware of the situation which my hon. Friend has described, but I regard it rather differently. I would say that it is discrimination in favour of certain categories of first-year nursing cadets who enjoy a 988 concession which is extended to no other young staff. But, as I have said, I am keeping the matter under review.