HC Deb 16 May 1984 vol 60 c164W
Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the number of nurses in National Health Service accommodation in each district health authority, distinguishing between (a) first year students, (b) other students and (c) other nurses and between accommodation which is (i) off hospital site, (ii) free standing but on hospital site and (iii) on site not free standing;

(2) how many nurses receive the 40 per cent. rental abatement on National Health Service accommodation that is substandard;

(3) how many staff living in National Health Service accommodation are students or are under 22 years old.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

We do not collect the information requested centrally.

Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update the 1964 guidelines on the quality of nurses' accommodation to include guidance on electrical wiring and improved security.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

We are in the process of revising the design guidance on residential accommodation for staff and electrical wiring and security are being considered in that review.

Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) on what date National Health Service staff accommodation charges will reach economic rent levels for (a) students and those under 22 years old and (b) other staff;

(2) what levels of increases in nurses' accommodation charges he is seeking in the current year; and whether they will be linked to (a) the recommendations of the Nurses Pay Review Board and (b) the Government guidelines on public sector pay levels.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Lodging charges for nursing and midwifery staff are set in accordance with an agreement reached in 1981 by the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council. The agreement between management and staff sides provided that economic charges reflecting the cost of providing the accommodation should be phased in over four years for qualified staff and over two years for students, pupils and other nursing staff aged under 22. The students, pupils and younger staff all have the economic charge automatically abated by 40 per cent. Once phasing is completed, all charges will rise in accordance with increases in the costs of providing the accommodation. The recommendations of the review body will not bear on these charges.