asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the establishment of nurses, at all levels, in the Kirklees area health authority; and how this compares with 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977.

Comparable figures are not available for 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973.From 1974 to 1977, there were funded establishments for the equivalent of 2,505, 2,542, 2,601 and 2,719 whole-time nurses respectively.