HC Deb 11 November 2003 vol 413 cc261-2W
Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the additional financial support offered to trainee NHS nurses since 1997. [136420]

Mr. Hutton

Following the report of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (the Dearing Report) in 1997, responsibility for nursing students training at degree level transferred from the Department for Education (now the Department for Education and Skills) to the Department of Health. From 1998 onwards, these students have been supported through the national health service bursary scheme and receive a more favourable package of support than other students in mainstream education.

NHS Bursary rates across all professions are considered each year and have been uplifted annually since 1998, including an increase of 10.4 per cent. (well ahead of inflation) in 2001.

The Department has made a number of other improvements to the scheme, including extension of eligibility for disabled students' allowances and hardship support to diploma level students, and more help with the costs of travel and accommodation. The Government have also committed to introduce help with the costs of child care from 2004.

My ministerial colleagues and I continue to keep NHS funded student support arrangements under review in order to ensure that they continue to meet our objectives for the service.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to trusts for the recruitment of nurses from outside the UK. [136382]

Mr. Hutton

The Department has issued the following guidance to national health service trusts who are recruiting nurses from the outside the United Kingdom.

  • Guidance on International Nursing Recruitment (November 1999)
  • The Code of Practice for NHS employers involved in the international recruitment of healthcare professionals (October 2001)
  • Guide for the Provision of Adaptation for Nurses in the Independent and National Health Service Sectors (May 2003)

These documents are available on www.doh.gov.uk/ international-recruitment.

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