§ Mr. Culverwellasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the difficulty in retaining nursing, attendant and domestic staff in hospitals and municipal institutions, he will include them in the schedule of undertakings under the Essential Work (General Provisions) Order, 1941, as being services essential to the life of the community?
§ Mr. E. BrownI have recently made an Order under which persons employed whole-time for more than twelve months as nurses in mental hospitals where certain conditions as to rates of pay and conditions of service are complied with are required to continue in such employment unless their services are dispensed with in accordance with the provisions of the Order. For the purpose of conserving the staff of hospitals this procedure is preferable to scheduling hospitals as undertakings under the Essential Work (General Provisions) Order, 1941. The question of making a similar Order applicable to hospitals generally is under consideration.