HC Deb 18 July 2001 vol 372 cc228-9W
John McDonnell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing students from non-European countries have received bursaries in(a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997, (d) 1998, (e) 1999 and (f) 2000. [4333]

Mr. Hutton

The National Health Service Student Grants Unit's best estimate is that, as of 16 July 2001, some 2,400 students from non-European countries, at different stages of diploma courses in nursing and midwifery, were in receipt of NHS bursaries. Reliable figures on a comparable basis from earlier time periods are not available.

The Nursing and Midwifery Admissions Service (NMAS) reports that the number of students from non-European countries accepted for entry to pre-registration diploma level nurse training programmes at English universities from 1997 to 2000 was;

  • Academic year 1997–98—331
  • Academic year 1998–99—627
  • Academic year 1999–2000—774
A small proportion of these students are likely to have been self-funded, that is, not in receipt of an NHS bursary. NMAS acceptance figures for earlier years, 1995–96 and 1996–97 are not available.

NMAS acceptance figures for academic year 2000–01 will not be available until after 31 August 2001, the end of the current academic year.