§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of nurses employed by the National Health Service in Scotland including pupils, students and auxiliaries in 1972, May 1979 and at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will give the cost at each date in current and constant terms.
§ Mr. Allan StewartThe total number of nursing staff—whole-time equivalent—and their employment costs were as follows:
Staff† September 1972 42,271 September 1979 56,037 September 1980 58,603
Costs £ million 1972–73 56.5 1979–80 259.1 1980–81 360.1 * Actual costs: separate constant price factors are not available for indivudual categories of NHS staff.
† Before 1974 community health services were the responsibility of local authorities, not the NHS. Nursing staff employed in these services in 1972 totalled 3,480: they and their costs—not separately available—are excluded from the figures.
378WThe provisional staffing figure for September 1981 is 61,025, but an employment cost figure for the current year will not be available for some months.