§ Mr. de Rothschildasked the Minister of Health whether he has been in communication with the medical officer of health of the Isle of Ely with regard to the present shortage of midwives in the county; and whether his Department, in consultation with the Ministry of Labour, is drawing up any plan for the compulsory registration of all certified midwives and their direction to employment in their own profession?
§ Mr. E. BrownOfficers of my Department have been in communication, both by letter and by interview, with the medical officer of health of the Isle of Ely; plans for alleviating the shortage of mid-wives are under discussion between my Department and the Ministry of Labour and National Service.
§ Mr. de Rothschildasked the Minister of Health whether he is considering an approved national scale of salaries for mid-wives, including emoluments and terms of service similar to those which apply in the Civil Nursing Reserve, with superannuation rights?
§ Mr. BrownIn May, 1942, I appointed a committee, under the chairmanship of my Noble Friend Lord Rushcliffe, who is also chairman of the Nurses Salaries Committee, to draw up agreed scales of salaries and emoluments for State-certified mid-wives employed on maternity work in hospitals or maternity homes or in the domiciliary midwifery service, for non-medical supervisors of midwives, and for pupil midwives. The committee is still sitting. A joint sub-committee of the Nurses Salaries Committee, the Scottish Nurses Salaries Committee, and the Mid-wives Salaries Committee, has been appointed to advise the main committees as to the best method of securing uniformity of superannuation and inter-changeability of pension rights.