§ 42. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to reduce unemployment among doctors and nurses.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI have seen no evidence of significant medical unemployed levels. The level of unemployment amongst nurses is also modest—about 2 per cent. of all those employed—and most of those are people whose availability for work is restricted. Despite the need to contain public expenditure generally, we have provided for 7½ per cent. real growth in NHS services between 1978–79 and 1983–84 and substantially increased the numbers of doctors and nurses engaged in direct patient care.