§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many low cost housing units for nurses in London have been found by the Department's housing tsar. [14112]
§ Mr. Hutton802 units have been provided so far with agreements signed for a further 120 units due for occupation next year. We are well on target to deliver the additional 2000 units of affordable housing units for national health service staff in London which is the target set in the NHS Plan. We expect to exceed this target.
In addition London NHS trusts are refurbishing 2,500 units in London, and 2,300 units of accommodation will be provided in London as part of the starter home initiative which will benefit some 5,000 NHS key workers. Overall we will have helped 7,500 individual staff in the NHS by mid-2003.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing posts there are(a) in the UK and (b) in London; and how many unfilled vacancies there are. [14111]
§ Mr. HuttonAs at 31 March 2001 there were 9,000 (3.4 per cent.) qualified nursing and midwifery posts in England which had been vacant for three months or more. The equivalent figure for the London area was 2,960 (6.4 per cent.).
Information on vacancies for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland is a matter for the devolved Assemblies.