§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the average extra wages paid to SRN, RGN and SCM qualified nurses hired through nurses' agencies compared with similarly qualified people hired through NHS;
(2) if she will list in the Official Report the maximum amount in wages payable to NHS nurses on appropriate qualifying scales and those payable to nurses hired through nurses' agencies.
§ Mr. MeacherSince 1st October the maximum payments authorities have paid to agencies in respect of agency nurses exclusive of the agency's commission has been based on the Whitley rates. However, whilst directly employed nurses are paid on the appropriate Whitley Council scale in accordance with the years' experience in the grade, all agency nurses are paid on the mean of the scale. The comparative rates, therefore, for a 40-hour week on day duty outside London are:
Directly employed staff Agency staff £ £ Staff Nurse, Staff Midwife: Minimum 40.68 45.71 Maximum 50.75 — Enrolled Nurse: Minimum 35.90 40.39 Maximum 44.88 —