HC Deb 03 April 2001 vol 366 cc140-1W
Mr. Stunell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full time, graduate nurses have(a) completed training and taken up a post within the NHS, (b) retired from the NHS and (c) resigned from the NHS in each of the last six years for which records are available; and if he will make a statement. [156810]

Mr. Denham

The information requested is not collected centrally.

Mr. Stunell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the vacancy level is for the full-time graduate nurses within the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [156808]

Mr. Denham

This information is not collected centrally. The vacancy rates for all qualified nurses is shown in the table.

Department of health vacancies survey—qualified nursing and midwifery staff—3 month vacancy rates1
Total qualified nurses—2000 Percentage
England 3.8

Notes:

1. Posts that had been vacant for three months or more at 31 March 2000

2. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place

Source:

Department of Health Vacancies Survey 2000

Mr. Stunell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he plans to provide incentives to full-time graduate nurses to work within the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [156809]

Mr. Denham

The Department is improving recruitment and retention for all National Health Service staff by introducing fair pay, by encouraging the NHS to become a better employer, and by increasing the workforce.

In addition, NHS funded students studying at degree level receive a favourable level of means-tested bursary. Additional allowances are available for older students, single parents and for those who have adult/child dependants. The NHS also pays the tuition fees and offers non-means-tested student loans, access funds, hardship loans and NHS hardship grants.

Bursary rates will increase by 10.4 per cent. with effect from 1 September this year. This is the biggest increase since the introduction of the bursary.