HC Deb 11 March 1971 vol 813 cc170-1W
Mr. Cordle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he can give of the future growth rate in the number of nursing staff employed by the National Health Service in hospitals.

Sir K. Joseph

A continuation of recent trends would give an increase of about 2½ per cent. a year but whether this is what occurs will depend on a number of factors which cannot be predicted, including in particular any changes made in the light of recommendations by the Briggs Committee on Nursing.