§ 51. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to ascertain the vacancies in each grade of staff in hospitals situated within the Greater London area, and as to whether the number of these is increasing or decreasing.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonNo, Sir. As staffing needs are determined locally and establishments are not fixed centrally I do not think it would be profitable to collect figures of vacancies in the statistical returns.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterHow can the right hon. Gentleman satisfy himself that the rates of remuneration are adequate to maintain the staff at these hospitals if he does not even know how far they are able to fill their establishments?
§ Mr. RobinsonI have already explained that establishments are not centrally fixed, and are not subject to any particular standards. The right hon. Gentleman may be interested to know that the only figures for vacancies which were ever regularly collected by the Ministry of Health were for nurses, and that this practice was stopped in 1952 just after the right hon. Gentleman and his party became the Government.
§ Mr. BraineIs it not a fact that there are now quite serious shortages in most categories of medical auxiliary staff? This has been the subject of representations by various staff associations. Does it not make sense to accept my right hon. 34 Friend's advice, and at least try to find the reason why?
§ Mr. RobinsonI do not accept that figures for vacancies are necessarily an accurate yardstick for demand. There are shortages in certain of the auxiliary categories, but I assure the hon. Gentleman that in almost every case these shortages are less than they were when the party opposite was last in power.