§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses have been employed directly by the National Health Service; and how many have been hired as agency nurses, in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. NewtonThe information requested is given in the table:
National Health Service nursing and midwifery staff: 30 September
England
Whole-time equivalents1 Nursing and midwifery Agency staff (including Agency) 1979 358,450 4,030 1980 370,080 4,220 1981 391,770 3,760 1982 397,080 3,040 1983 397,120 2,440 1984 397,490 3,750 1985 401,150 4,120 Source: DHSS annual census of non-medical manpower.
1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest 10 whole-time equivalents. No adjustment has been made for the reduction in the working week introduced during 1980.