§ Mr. LivseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many whole-time equivalent(a) bank, (b) agency and (c) contract nurses were employed and at what cost, by each health authority in Wales in each of the last 10 years. [74375]
Mr. Jon Owen JonesThe information requested is not collected routinely. However, a survey carried out by the Nurse Executives of NHS trusts in Wales estimated that there were 665 whole-time equivalent bank nurses and 173 whole-time equivalent agency nurses used between July 1997 and July 1998 in Wales. Information on costs is not available.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.