§ LORD AVEBURYasked Her Majesty's Government what was the total cost of employing agency nurses in hospitals administered under the National Health Service in England and Wales in the year 1972–73, and what additional expenditure was incurred compared with the cost of employing an equivalent number of whole-time nurses on establishment during that year.
§ LORD ABERDAREAbout £6 million. Comparison overall with the cost of employing nurses on establishment is not 83WA possible as agency charges vary and National Health Service nurses are paid on a scale and not on a flat rate. But in many cases there is little difference in cost between agency and directly employed nurses of similar grade when account is taken of the paid sick leave, holiday and superannuation provisions for the latter.