§ Mr. Emeryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present position concerning the shortage of nursing staff; and whether he will list the total number of nursing vacancies in 261W the different geographic areas of Great Britain.
§ Mr. AlisonMeaningful esimates of shortages cannot be made because there is is no generally accepted yardstick for determining nursing staff requirements and information is not collected centrally about vacancies; but the total number of nursing staff in hospitals in England and Wales is rising steadily and the increase in the year to 31st March, 1971, was the highest ever recorded. Preliminary figures for 30th September, 1971, indicate a further increase.