asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends taking to protect the pay award for nurses whose increases in salary have been wiped out by the increases demanded by hospital authorities in the cost of nurses' living accommodation.

The Whitley Council's recent agreement requires health authorities to make increases in lodging charges from 1st April 1978. These are, however, well below the increases in basic salaries applicable from the same date; for example for unqualified nursing staff £45 per annum compared with at least £192 per annnm.