HC Deb 17 September 2003 vol 410 cc850-1W
Gregory Barker

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses have been recruited by the NHS from South Africa in each of the last five years. [130037]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 16 September 2003]: The information requested is not collected by the Department. Information about the number of nurses admitted to the Nursing and Midwifery Council register is published by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (www.nmc-uk.org).

Dr. Evan Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS nurses were(a) suspended and (b) on gardening or special leave, at the latest date for which figures are available; for how long they were suspended; what the total cost was to the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [128932]

Mr. Hutton

The Department of Health does not collect any information centrally on the numbers of National Health Service nurses that are suspended or on special leave.

Stephen Hesford

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses are in training; and how many were in training in 1997. [130543]

Mr. Hutton

In 1997–98 there were 38,412 nurses and midwives in pre-registration training. In 2002–03 there were 60,189 nurses in pre-registration training, an increase of 57 per cent.