§ 39. Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now revise his policy on advertising vacancies in the National Health Service; what change in policy there has been since his Department's circular issued in 1954 (HM(54)(24)); and what is his estimate of the saving of resources if, instead of advertisements in journals which are almost exclusively circulated among nurses and midwives already employed in the National Health Service, his Department issued regular information of posts vacant.
§ Mr. AlisonA circular letter was issued in February, 1968, advising on economies to be obtained by control of content, selection of media and numbers of advertisements. Any further revision of policy will be considered in the light of the recommendations of the Committee on Nursing which is considering recruitment. A detailed study would be needed to assess the potential savings suggested by the hon. Member but I doubt whether they would be large or whether the system would necessarily be as effective as advertising in the nursing journals which have a wide circulation.