§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many health care assistants have been seconded to train as nurses in each acute trust, in each year since the scheme was introduced; [130045]
(2) what records are kept of the number of health care assistants who apply for secondments to train as nurses and are refused such secondments; [130046]
(3) how many NHS trusts are refusing all secondment applications from health care assistants who wish to train as nurses; and which of these trusts have decided to ban all secondments, whatever training is involved. [130047]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 17 September 2003]: The number of health care assistants seconded to train as nurses is a matter for local determination. Records of numbers accepted by trusts, refused applications for secondments and trusts not offering secondments are not collected centrally.
In the current financial year, workforce development confederations plan to support 6,966 secondments. The Department is substantially increasing the amount of funding available in the years 2004–05 and 2005–06.
For the current financial year, central funding has been provided for up to 15 per cent. of the nurses in training to be on secondments.