asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet received the report from the Whitley Council on the new scale of salaries of the higher grades of nursing staff.

No, Sir.

Does the Minister realise that this is a very serious matter and is causing a great deal of distress to senior nurses in hospitals? Will he please take action to see that this report is received as soon as possible?

It is, of course, open to hon. Members to put these Questions on the Order Paper, but it has been the practice to allow the Whitley machinery to operate under its own steam.

Could I be assured that this is not part of the Government's wage freeze?

The Whitley machinery has worked very hard and a very large number of adjustments have been made in the salaries and conditions of health staffs, which have been improved more in four years than in the previous 40 years.