asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many trainee nurses entered training in Northern Ireland during the last 12 months; and how many of these were, respectively, from Northern Ireland, the Irish Republic and Great Britain.

1,440 during the 12 months ended 31st December 1976. 1,348 of them had home addresses in Northern Ireland, 88 in the Irish Republic, two in Great Britain and two abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a list showing the newspapers printed in the Irish Republic in which, during the last 12 months, advertisements have been placed for nurses or trainee nurses for Northern Ireland hospitals;

No advertisements have been placed in newspapers printed in the Irish Republic during the last 12 months, for nurses or trainee nurses for Northern Ireland hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a list showing the newspapers printed in Northern Ireland in which, during the last 12 months, advertisements have been placed for nurses or trainee nurses for Northern Ireland hospitals; what was, in each case, the number of advertisements placed per paper during the past 12 months; what was the cost; what are the areas in which each of these papers circulate; and by which board or body the advertisements were placed.

Following is the information:—

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many unemployed nurses there are in Northern Ireland; and if he is satisfied that they have been made aware of hospitals in Northern Ireland which are seeking nursing staff.

In September 1976, the latest date for which figures are available. 353 nurses were registered as unemployed.Vacancies for nurses are widely advertised in local newspapers by the area health and social services boards. The Department of Manpower Services brings these vacancies and notified job opportunities to the attention of all suitable workers registering for employment in Northern Ireland.