§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses are currently employed in the national health service; at what average salary; and what were the equivalent figures in 1979.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe number of nurses and midwives—whole-time equivalents—employed in the national health service at 30 September 1991 and at 30 September 1979, excluding agency staff, are as follows:
Adjusted 11979 378,050 1991 392,200 1 The 1979 figure has been adjusted to reflect the fact that in 1980–81 the working week reduced from 40 to 37.5 hours. An estimated average annual nurse's salary is £14,560 with effect from 1 April 1992. This figure represents the basic staff nurse (scale D) earnings. There is no comparable figure available for 1979.