§ Mr. Russell Kerrasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the num- 304W ber of agency nurses currently employed in the National Health Service on short-term contracts; what percentage this represents of the total number of nurses currently employed by the National Health Service; and what is the Government's policy in regard to the employment of agency nurses.
§ Mr. Alison2,992 in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales at 30th September, 1971, the latest date for which figures are available; 2.3 per cent.; the Government's policy is that the number of agency nurses should be limited to the minimum necessary to avoid serious reductions in services to patients.