§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether consideration is being given to the selling of nurses' accommodation throughout the NHS hospitals.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Glenarthur)My Lords, we are considering a Rayner scrutiny report which examined the way in which the NHS uses its large stock of accommodation for all types of staff. We plan to publish the report shortly and to consult upon it.
Baroness VickersMy Lords, in thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he will be kind enough to consider turning some of these homes into flats which could be rented by nurses who want to live their individual lives after working their shifts? Also, such flats would be very convenient for them, since when they have to go home on dark nights they sometimes need protection, especially in certain areas in London.
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, I share my noble friend's concern about people travelling home late at night in London, and especially young girls, but I think it is important to remember that only a relatively small proportion of nurses use health authority accommodation. I think that what my noble friend suggests is primarily a matter for the local health authorities, and I am sure they will note her views.
§ Lord MolloyMy Lords, does the Minister agree that it might be sensible and worthwhile to acquaint with the situation at regional level the Confederation of Health Service Employees, which looks after the interests of nurses, so that there can be a joint endeavour on what the noble Baroness has in mind, to everybody's advantage?
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, that will all form part of the consultation process.
§ Lord EnnalsMy Lords, is it not a fact that the Secretary of State has had this particular Rayner report before him now for several weeks? Why, therefore, has it not been published? I have asked the Minister questions such as this on similar occasions. When documents are prepared, why can they not be 486 published so that the House, the public, and the professions themselves can discuss the issues? May I ask the noble Lord for three assurances on the subject itself? First, will students in training not be denied accommodation in nurses' homes? Secondly, will provision be made for temporary accommodation which may be required for nurses who need to move in because of an emergency? Thirdly, will the Minister's right honourable friend the Secretary of State not take a decision without consultation with all involved, unlike what happened with the Griffiths Report on management?
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, I thought that I had answered most of those questions in the first place. The report will be published, probably later this month; it is for my right honourable friend to decide precisely when, and the noble Lord will be aware of that. So far as students in training and temporary accommodation are concerned, these are all matters that will be taken into account in the consultative process.
§ Lord KilmarnockMy Lords, can the noble Lord give us an assurance that those nurses and trainee nurses who use this accommodation will not be forced onto the open market? Does he agree that at the present moment the cost of special accommodation for nurses is between £38 and £110 a week in central London, and that if they go onto the open market, they will have to pay upwards of £40 a week? Will the Government bear that in mind?
§ Lord GlenarthurYes, my Lords, there is no question of anybody being suddenly turned out onto the streets. We shall consult on what should be the health service's policy on accommodation for staff. If it is decided to reduce the existing stock, the reduction will of course be achieved over a period of years.
§ Baroness Masham of IltonMy Lords, does the Minister agree with me that the need for nurses' accommodation differs very much indeed throughout the country? Is he aware that in some of our districts up in Yorkshire we rent accommodation for nurses from local authorities?
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, I was not aware of what the noble Baroness says about Yorkshire, but certainly it is true that the needs differ throughout the country.