§ 33. Mr. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from hospital boards and other organisations regarding the shortage of trained nurses.
§ Mr. EwingThat answer indicates as do all the answers today, that no one writes to the Scottish Department about anything now. Does he recognise that the shortage of trained nurses is a serious problem in Scotland? An 8 per cent. pay increase was announced yesterday, the terms of which I have not had time to study because of our sitting in Committee until six o'clock this morning on the Housing (Financial Provisions) Scotland Bill. Will the hon. Gentleman undertake that the 8 per cent. will not be taken from the nurses in the form of increased charges for hostel accommodation and so on?
§ Mr. MonroThe shortage the hon. Gentleman talks about is not a fact. There may, exceptionally, be a shortage in certain hospitals, but we are still going through the transitional period for the new working week. In many hospitals additional staff have been engaged and other arrangements have been made to introduce the shorter working week. There may remain some hospitals where there is a shortage, but I ask the hon. Gentleman to realise that there has been a very significant increase in the total nursing staff in the past two years, from 40,106 in 1969 to 44,622 now.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieCan the Minister answer my hon. Friend's second point? Will he assure the House that the increase will not mean that nurses will have much more taken from them for board and lodging and so on?
§ Mr. MonroLike the hon. Gentleman, I was in the Committee until six o'clock, and I have not had time to study the details of the pay agreement, but I will look into the matter.