HC Deb 24 June 1998 vol 314 cc508-9W
Dr. Starkey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to amend the working holiday visa scheme to allow greater flexibility in respect of the employment of overseas nurses; [46503]

(2) if he will make it his policy to grant all nurses on working holiday visas an unrestricted two-year visa. [46504]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

We would not wish to relax the working holidaymaker rules further while a mechanism already exists, through the work permit scheme, for non-European Economic Area nationals to be employed in cases of skills shortage.