§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of nurses employed by the National Health Service in Wales 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. Wyn RobertsThe numbers of nursing and midwifery staff recorded as employed in the National Health Service in Wales were as follows:
Whole-Time Equivalents September 1972 19,301 May 1979 22,943 December 1981 25,481 The figures are not strictly comparable. 1972 figures are from annual census returns and relate to those employed by the Welsh hospital board, hospital management committees, the Blood Transfusion Service, local authority health services and school health services; whereas post-1974 figures cover area health authority personnel. Furthermore, 1981 whole-time equivalents are on the basis of a 371/2 hour working week, whereas earlier figures refer to a week of 40 hours.
381WThe cost—including employers' and employees' contributions to national insurance and superannuation—in Wales in 1972–73, 1979–80 and 1980–81 was as follows:
Current Prices Constant (November 1980) price £million £million 1972–73 *23.8 not a available 1979–80 106.6 142.2 1980–81 150.5 150.5 * Relates to hospital nursing and midwifery staff only.