§ Mr. Fellasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the number of State-registered nurses on 30th April, 1951 was only 148,123, as against 155,207 as at 31st March, 1950; and if he will, in order to encourage nurses to remain on 16W the register, re-introduce the yearly payment of registration fees that was discontinued on 24th March, 1950.
§ Mr. CrookshankI am aware of these figures. Most of the nurses who have discontinued their registration had already retired from active nursing, and there would be no advantage in re-introducing the cumbersome and expensive system of annual retention fees.