§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he has any information concerning the numbers of nursing staff currently employed by hospices;
(2) whether he has any information concerning the total size and percentage of total spending represented by nursing costs to hospices.
§ Mr. NewtonMost hospices are independent voluntary bodies and such information is therefore not collected centrally.
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he has any plans to take steps to assist hospices in meeting the cost of the new pay levels for nursing personnel;
(2) whether he gives any guidance to regional health authorities about assistance given to hospices to meet nursing costs; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) on 10 May at column140.
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§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning the problems faced by hospices in meeting the new pay levels for nursing personnel.
§ Mr. NewtonWe have had representations from "Help the Hospices" and from a number of individual hospices through their local Members of Parliament.