§ Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses in English National Health Service hospitals are recruited through private agencies; and what is the total amount paid out to these nurses and the agencies involved.
§ Mr. AlisonThree thousand, two hundred and sixty—one agency nurses—in whole-time equivalent terms—were employed in National Health Service hospitals in England at 30th September 1972 and about £6 million was paid by hospital authorities in respect of agency nurses in the year ended 31st March 1973.