§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many qualified midwives are not actively employed within the National Health Service.
§ Sir George YoungInformation is not available in the precise form requested. The total number of midwives employed in the National Health Service in England and 303W Wales at 30 September 1979 was about 18,500. The number who had advised the Central Midwives Board of their intention to practise during the year ended 31 March 1980 was 22,304. The total number of qualified midwives on the Central Midwives Board roll for England and Wales at 31 March 1980 was 107,121.
Number of qualified midwifery staff* at 30 September—England Whole time equivalent Region 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 England total 14,334.1 15,073.7 15,318.1 14,904.8 15,508.9 English Regions Northern 988.2 981.9 981.4 988.4 1,067.8 Yorkshire 1,021.8 1,029.0 1,110.6 1,117.8 1,156.2 Trent 1,435.0 1,423.5 1,382.9 1.300.5 1,468.7 East Anglian 573.9 627.1 578.4 576.6 658.6 N W Thames 1,028.2 1,037.9 1,070.0 1,072.2 1,101.8 N E Thames 1,185.6 1,359.1 1,417.3 1,209.6 1,240.8 S E Thames 1,140.1 1,215.1 1,206.3 1,164.3 1,190.8 S W Thames 779.6 896.l 811.1 818.7 777.1 Wessex 849.0 738.9 812.9 789.3 878.9 Oxford 697.5 760.1 758.0 776.8 785.9 South-Western 869.9 913.9 943.8 987.4 1,005.3 West Midlands 1,508.1 1,646.2 1,713.7 1,676.5 1,631.2 Mersey 702.1 867.7 852.3 816.2 882.5 North-Western 1,476.6 1,474.0 1,557.4 1,511.1 1,548.7 London post-graduate teaching hospitals 78.5 103.2 122.0 99.4 114.6 *Includes tutorial and administrative staff but excludes pupil midwives and agency midwives. The NHS midwifery service in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.