§ Mr. OnslowTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what controls his Department exercises over the fees that hospital authorities may pay to agency nurses; what consideration he is giving to applying similar restrictions in the case of agency doctors; and how soon he expects to reach a decision on the matter.
§ Mr. NewtonI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley) and my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor and Maidenhead (Dr. Glyn) on 23 November.
§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses are currently engaged within the National Health Service, who are employed by agencies, or who are otherwise covered by contracts of employment with the service.
§ Mr. NewtonThe number of agency nursing and midwifery staff employed in the National Health Service in England at 30 September 1986 was 5,450 whole-time equivalents. In addition, at the same date, health authorities employed 4,220 WTE bank nursing and midwifery staff on a causal basis.