Miss Wardasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will detail the new proposals promised for improving the conditions of nurses serving in the Armed Forces of the Crown?
§ Captain Margesson:I am glad to be able to announce the following improvements in the scale of pay of the nursing services, which will take effect from 1st April, 1941: —
The minimum rate of pay of a sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, is being increased from £80 to £95 a year, and sisters whose rates are below £95 will be brought up to that figure. Annual increments of £5 a year for future approved service will be admissible as heretofore, and the sister's maximum will remain £125 a year. In the case of members of Queen Alexandra's 365W Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, the Territorial Army Nursing Service and the Territorial Army Nursing Service Reserve, the minimum rate of pay will in future be £105 a year, in recognition of the fact that they normally have special commitments to meet in the form of superannuation contributions. Members of these services who have civilian nursing experience will also be allowed special increments under certain conditions and within certain limits. Thus three years' approved civilian nursing experience obtained after reaching the age of 25 will qualify the member, 366W in future, for a minimum rate of £110, six years, £115, and nine years or more, £120 a year. Sisters at present serving who had such civilian nursing experience and whose rates are below the minima mentioned will be brought up to the appropriate minimum. Increments of £5 a year on the scale for each year's approved military service rendered hereafter will also be admissible subject to the over-all maximum of £125 a year.
Similar increases have been made in the scale of pay of members of the Royal Air Force nursing services.