§ LORD CRAIGMYLEasked His Majesty's Government what is the cause of the prolonged delay which has taken place in connexion with the training and enrolling of assistant nurses in Scotland; and in view of the shortage of nurses in Scotland, what further steps will be taken to secure a supply of nurses adequate to the needs of the sick in hospitals and in their homes.
LORD ALNESSAs regards admission to the Roll of Assistant Nurses the Statutory Rules made by the General Nursing Council for Scotland for this purpose were536WA approved by the Secretary of State on 5th June, 1944. As regards training, the General Nursing Council for Scotland is now engaged in drawing up the required Rules. While there has been some delay, it should be kept in mind that considerable time is required for carrying out the statutory procedures and for consultations and discussions.
With regard to the second part of the question, the Minister of Labour and National Service on the advice of his National Advisory Council has made arrangements for improving the supply and securing a better distribution of nurses. The salaries and conditions of service of nurses have been improved as a result of the recommendations of the Scottish Nurses Salaries Committee which have been generally adopted by hospital authorities. These authorities are assisted by a grant from Exchequer funds to enable them to meet the additional cost of giving effect to the Committee's recommendations.
In addition, methods of increasing training facilities were suggested to hospital authorities in a letter sent to them by the Secretary of State in November, 1943, and in September, 1943, education authorities were urged to give assistance in the encouragement of girls to take up nursing. While the Secretary of State considers that there is need for a greater expansion of training in Scotland, the effect of the measures taken is indicated by the fact that the number of nurses (1320) admitted to the State Registers in Scotland in 1943 was nearly 20 per cent. more than in 1938.