§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will obtain statistics showing the number of midwives, district nurses and health visitors practising within Wales.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettAs I indicated in my reply on 18 November, at column 34, to the hon. Gentleman's question on the number of midwives, district nurses and health visitors on 18 November, complete information on staff numbers is not available at present for occupational groups such as these. The Department is working with district health authorities to improve the information on the manpower information system from which detailed breakdowns of nursing and midwifery manpower are derived, and progress is being made. Once we are satisfied that the system is a fully reliable source of occupationally disaggregated information, such as numbers of midwives, district nurses and health visitors, such information will be made available.