asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many area health authorities in Wales when first constituted had no members of the nursing profession in their composition; and what is the present position.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None". At present, the Clwyd Area Health Authority does not include someone with current nursing experience.

What was the argument which persuaded my hon. Friend in the first instance not to have representatives of the nursing profession on the Clwyd Area Health Authority?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising the matter. All nominations for membership of the authority from the various organisations that were invited to nominate were considered very carefully, but at the end of the day, and taking into account all the circumstances, it seemed that the balance of membership which now obtains in Clwyd was the most appropriate. It includes someone with former nursing experience.

Will the hon. Gentleman take it from me that there is serious discontent in the ranks of the nursing profession about the absence of any representation on this authority?

The fact that the lady to whom the hon. Gentleman may well be referring was not included was no reflection whatsoever on her contribution. There is no statutory obligation to have a nursing member.