asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many agency nurses are at present employed in the Yorkshire Region at the latest available date; and how this compares with the number available in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977.
The following table shows the number and whole-time equivalent of agency nurses and midwives employed in the Leeds RHB/Yorkshire
| AGENCY NURSING AND MIDWIFERY STAFF IN NHS HOSPITALS YORKSHIRE RHA (Leeds RHB prior to 1st April 1974)—30th September | ||||||||
| Leeds RHB | Yorkshire RHA | |||||||
| 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | |
| Total: | ||||||||
| No. | 2 | 2 | Nil | Nil | 31 | 51 | Nil | Nil |
| Wte. | 2·0 | 2·0 | Nil | Nil | 22·9 | 33·7 | Nil | Nil |
| Nursing Staff: | ||||||||
| No. | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | 31 | 51 | Nil | Nil |
| Wte. | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | 22·9 | 33·7 | Nil | Nil |
| Midwifery Staff: | ||||||||
| No. | 2 | 2 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Wte. | 2·0 | 2·0 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average salary of a ward sister, a staff nurse, a qualified nurse, and an auxiliary nurse in the Yorkshire Region in 1973; and what is the current salary for each post.
The information requested for Yorkshire region is not available.The mean of each national salary scale, agreed by the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council, for the grades requested, at 1st April 1973 and 1st April 1978 were:
| 1st April 1973 | 1st April 1978 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Auxiliary nurse | 895 | 2,396 |
| State enrolled nurse | 1,146 | 2,748 |
| Staff nurse | 1,297 | 3,080 |
| Ward sister | 1,731 | 3,941 |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage drop in salary has been suffered by a ward sister, a staff nurse, a qualified nurse, and an auxiliary nurse in the Yorkshire Region, based on the increase in the cost of living index from 1973 to the latest available date.
The salaries of nurses working in the National Health Service in all regions and areas of Great Britain are in accordance with scales agreed by the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council. Movement at the minimum point of the salary scale, for the grades requested, from 1st April 1973 to 10th April 1978, and comparable movement in the Department of Employment Retail Price Index from August 1973 to August 1978, are set out below.
RHA at 30th September from 1970 to 1977—the latest available date:
Percentage increase in minimum point of salary scales effective from 1st April 1973 and 1st April 1978
| Percentage RP1 increase August 1973 to August 1978
| |
| Nursing auxiliary | 211·7 | 112·1 |
| Enrolled nurse | 136·7 | |
| Staff nurse | 133·9 | |
| Ward sister | 127·9 |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average amount of overtime that nurses of all grades are currently asked to work; and what was this figure in 1973.
The information requested is not available centrally.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the recognised establishment of nurses in the Kirklees area now, and what was the figure in 1973.
Comparable figures for 1973 are not available: the current funded establishment is 2,834 nurses—whole-time equivalent—compared with 2,505—whole-time equivalent—in April 1974.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what qualifications are required before a nurse is allowed to take up nursing.
Before taking up nursing as a qualified nurse, on successful completion of training, a nurse must have her name placed on the register or roll of nurses maintained by the General Nursing Council for England and Wales. The statutory requirement for entry to nurse training for qualification as State registered nurse is a minimum of two passes at GCE "O" level, or CSE Grade 1 pass, or a pass in the General Nursing Council's educational test. Nurse training for qualification as State enrolled nurse requires a good all-round education.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the establishment of nurses in each and every region in England and Wales; and what is the actual number currently employed in each region.
Information about the establishments of nursing and midwifery staff, which are determined locally within health authorities' financial allocations, is not available centrally.The whole-time equivalent numbers of qualified nurses and midwives and of nursing and midwifery staff—which includes unqualified staff—employed in each region in England and in Wales on 31st March 1978 was:
| Qualified Nurses and Midwives | Nursing and Midwifery Staff | |
| Northern region | 13,097 | 22,315 |
| Yorkshire region | 14,033 | 26,074 |
| Trent region | 15,439 | 28,972 |
| East Anglian region | 6,427 | 12,039 |
| NW Thames region | 14,118 | 24,955 |
| NE Thames region | 15,916 | 29,140 |
| SE Thames region | 16,400 | 28,737 |
| SW Thames region | 12,898 | 22,225 |
| Wessex region | 9,940 | 18,145 |
| Oxford region | 7,641 | 14,060 |
| South-Western region | 12,088 | 22,314 |
| West Midlands region | 18,789 | 34,857 |
| Mersey region | 11,216 | 20,130 |
| North-Western region | 16,473 | 30,172 |
| Wales | (Not available) | 22,299 |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take the necessary action to ensure that nurses will be able to obtain substantial increases in their salaries; and whether he will make a statement.
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton) earlier today.