§ 52. Mr. Lambornasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many agency nurses are employed in the National Health Service within the greater London area.
§ Mr. AlisonInformation about the number in the greater London area is not readily available but there were 2,693 in hospitals of metropolitan regional hospital boards and London boards of governors at 30th September, 1971.
§ 53. Mr. Lambornasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, on the assumption that directly employed nurses are on sick or annual leave for seven weeks in the year, what is the additional cost of using agency nurses in the National Health Service.
§ Mr. AlisonI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt) on 25th January.—[Vol. 829, c.366–7.]