§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations she has received on the need to stabilise the cost of nurses' residential accommodation charges; and what reply she has made.
§ Dr. OwenI have received four letters. The increase in nurses' lodging charges negotiated in January by the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council was due to operate from 1st April. In the light of the counter-inflation order on public sector rents, and with the knowledge of the Whitley Council, I have decided that there should be no increase in the rent element of the charge. The increase from 1st April 1974 will, therefore, be reduced from 5 per cent. to 2½ per cent., representing only the non-rent elements.