§ Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nursing staff and others are working for the National Health Service as self-employed persons; and how their incomes vary from those of staff doing the same kind of work on an employed basis.
§ Mr. Alison2,877 agency nurses were in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales at 31st March 1972 and agency doctors worked about 700 man-weeks in England in the 12 month334W period ending 31st August 1972. Comparable information is not available centrally about the number of administrative and clerical and para-medical staff.
Realistic comparisons between the incomes of agency nurses and doctors and those directly employed is not possible because of a number of factors: payments made by agencies vary; directly employed nurses and doctors are paid on scales and not on flat rates; and National Health Service staff enjoy a number of valuable advantages such as paid sick leave and holiday and superannuation benefits.