§ 28. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a nurse has to pay a fee of six guineas to get on to the State Register, and that she has to pay a similar sum to sit her final examinations; and what steps he intends to take to reduce or eliminate these charges.
§ Mr. SnowYes, Sir. My right hon. Friend approved these fees last year and before doing so satisfied himself that they were necessary to enable the General Nursing Council to meet its rising costs.
§ Mr. HamiltonCan my hon. Friend tell us what these sums are used for? Does he not agree that they are completely out of proportion to the miserable salaries these girls are paid? If the Minister can sanction and approve them, presumably he can equally reduce or eliminate them and, if he can, will he not do so?
§ Mr. SnowThe registration fees are scaled to take account of the overall cost of administration of the Council. If it is of any comfort to my hon. Friend, I can tell him that comparable professions employing ladies like these charge somewhat higher registration fees. In any case, these fees are known three years in advance of the actual demand.
Earl of DalkeithWhat is the overall sum of money involved in the average year? Would the Minister agree that it would be worth while removing any form of disincentive to getting nurses into this essential profession?
§ Mr. SnowI could not give that figure without notice, but I should not have thought that these fees are a disincentive, although I agree that it is a matter which should be watched.
§ Mr. PavittAs hospital boards, management committees and boards of governors have a right to meet certain costs, what would be my hon. Friend's advice to them on whether they should meet these charges for their own nurses?
§ Sir A. V. HarveyIs the Minister aware that a B.O.A.C. senior captain earning nearly £6,000 a year pays less to obtain his licence than do the nurses for their registration, and will he look at the matter again?
§ Mr. SnowThe subsidy for a commercial enterprise such as B.O.A.C. is not a matter for comparison with an organisation such as the General Nursing Council.
§ Mr. HamiltonOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatis- 78 factory nature of those replies, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.