§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when officials from his Department last met Home Office officials to discuss working holiday visas for nurses. [46502]
§ Mr. MilburnOfficials from the Department periodically meet officials from the Home Office and other Government departments to discuss a range of issues concerning the employment of overseas nurses. The last meeting which involved Home Office officials was held on 31 October 1995. In addition, Departmental officials have regular contact with officials from the Overseas Labour Service who are responsible for advising the Home Office on the acceptability of work permit applications from employers to fill shortage posts with overseas nationals. The last meeting was held on 4 February 1998.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of overseas nurses working in the United Kingdom on working holiday visas to addressing shortages in nursing provision. [46505]
§ Mr. MilburnIt is not the purpose of the working holidaymaker scheme to address skill shortages in the United Kingdom. A mechanism already exists, through the work permit scheme, for non-European Economic Area nationals to be employed in cases of skills shortages. Information on the numbers of overseas nurses registering with the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting is published in the statistical analysis of the UKCC's professional register 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997, copies of which are available in the Library.