§ Mr. W. J. Brownasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the shortage of maternity nurses, he will consider reverting to the earlier practice, as an emergency measure, of regarding six months' maternity training for trained nurses and one year's maternity training for untrained nurses as being adequate for the time being.
§ Mr. WillinkNo, Sir. One of the main objects in lengthening the course of training for midwives in 1938 was to raise the standard of midwifery, following the imposition on local supervising authorities of the duty of establishing a service of domiciliary midwives. I am advised that in fact the lengthening of the course of training has been reflected in an improved midwifery service, and that a reduction in the period at the present time would be retrograde. I do not, therefore, feel able to invite the Central Midwives Board to consider a revision of their training rules in the way suggested.