§ 36 and 37. Dr. Morganasked the First Lord of the Admiralty (I) whether he has considered the rates of pay of the different sections of the male mental nursing staff at the Royal Naval Auxiliary Hospital, Yarmouth, Norfolk, especially the lowest rate of 58s. per week for a 54 hour working week and whether in face of the present 18W nursing shortage and the difficulty of obtaining recruits to this staff at this scale of remuneration, he will consider revising the present rates;
(2) whether it is the intention of his Department to accept immediately the recommendations, made in 1944, of the Rushcliffe Committee regarding the remuneration, etc., of the male mental nursing staff at the Royal Naval Auxiliary Hospital, Yarmouth, Norfolk; what is the reason for the delay in implementing either these recommendations or the promise of his Department to accept them; whether he is aware that representations on these points have been made continuously by the staff or their trade union representatives since August, 1944; that the staff is dissatisfied at the unnecessary delay; and will an announcement as to their acceptance or refusal be made at once.
§ Mr. W. Edwards:I am aware that representations have been made from time to time on behalf of the staff concerned, and regret that it has not hitherto been possible to provide them with the assurance which they were anxious to receive. I can now say, however, that, subject to certain necessary and reasonable modifications, it is the intention of the Admiralty to apply the recommendations of the Rushcliffe Committee to the staff of this Hospital, and it is hoped that the arrangements to be made for this purpose will be communicated to the authorities concerned in the very near future.