§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Health what are his plans to refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the salaries of nurses and midwives.
§ Mr. SnowIt is proposed to refer the pay of Nurses and Midwives to the National Board for Prices and Incomes, in accordance with the recommendation of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council, as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Health (1) what is the estimated annual number of nurses and midwives in the National 254W Health Service who have left the profession during the past four years;
(2) what is the estimated annual number of nurses and midwives in the National Health Service who have entered the profession during the past four years.
§ Mr. SnowInformation is not available in the form requested, but the net effect of the numbers entering and leaving employment in the National Health Service in these professions is shown by the following total figures of qualified nurses and midwives in post in each of the years 1963–66:
1963 … … … … 124,033 1964 … … … … 127,678 1965 … … … … 138,545 1966 … … … … 150,599
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Health what estimate he has made of the total shortage of nurses and midwives in the National Health Service.
§ Mr. SnowI would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the right hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) on 14th November, which is of general application.—[Vol. 736, c. 33–4.]