HL Deb 24 February 1977 vol 380 cc492-3WA
Baroness FAITHFULL

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. i. how many student nurses and how many pupil nurses started training in each year from 1970 to 1976 inclusive;
  2. ii. what is the projected intake from 1977 to 1980 inclusive;
  3. iii. how many schools of nursing are there in the United Kingdom; and
  4. iv. in how many was the intake in 1976 less than the intake in 1975.

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

(i) The numbers of student and pupil nurses who started training were:—

a. in England and Wales
Year ended 31st March Student Nurses Pupil Nurses
1970 15,726 11,868
1971 16,183 13,329
1972 20,492 16,008
1973 18,086 13,298
1974 17,819 11,985
1975 17,734 12,447
1976 17,880 12,109

Note: Because of a change in the method of recording statistics the figures for 1971 and 1972 should be read together to provide a general comparison with other years.

b. in Scotland
Year ended 31st December Student Nurses Pupil Nurses
1970 2,163 1,758
1971 2,565 2,076
1972 2,627 2,290
1973 2,302 2,149
1974 2,107 1,807
1975 2,495 2,071
1976 2,670 2,084

c. in Northern Ireland
Period: Student Nurses Pupil Nurses
Year ended 31st December 1970 943 412
1st January 1971–31st March 1971 258 187
Year ended 31st March 1972 1,019 472
Year ended 31st March 1973 937 599
Year ended 31st March 1974 953 579
Year ended 31st March 1975 932 542
Year ended 31st March 1976 949 601

Figures exclude student and pupil nurses who started training for a second or subsequent qualification.

(ii) Each health authority is responsible for determining the level of intake of student and pupil nurses to its schools and a projected intake from 1977 to 1980 is not readily available on a national basis.

(iii) 258.

(iv) This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.