§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been between 1979 and the latest available year in(a) the basic remuneration and (b) the average overtime payments for (i) first-year student nurses and (ii) third-year student nurses; and what is the bursary for project 2000 student nurses.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyBetween April 1979 and April 1990 the basic pay of first-year and third-year student nurses increased by 143 per cent. (6.8 per cent. in real terms) and 159 per cent. (14 per cent. in real terms) respectively. Information on allowances such as overtime and special duty payments to student nurses is available only from 1984–85 and indicates that their earnings from 749W these sources add about 11 per cent. to basic pay. For 1990–91, nurses have received a pay rise of 10.6 per cent. with a further 2 per cent. from January 1991. In addition inner London weighting has risen by 28 per cent. This means that average earnings now range from £6,320 (£6,440 from January 1991) for a first-year student nurse outside London to £9,025 (£9,168 from January 1991) for a third-year student nurse in inner London. Project 2000 bursaries for students aged under 26 at the start of their course are £4,700 in London and £4,000 elsewhere. For those aged 26 and over the equivalent figures are £5,200 and £4,500.