To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement on the project 2000 proposals for the reform of nurse education and training.

I have today announced our broad acceptance of the United Kingdom Central Council's proposals for major reform of nurse education and training. This entails acceptance of the proposals for a common foundation training between the various nursing specialisms, to be followed by specialist training; a significant reduction in nursing students' rostered contribution to service, without, however, substantially altering the essentially practical orientation of their training; and a move to full student status and replacement of salaries with non-means-tested bursaries. A number of outstanding points remain to be resolved, including the role and training of support staff to nurses and the timetable for the cessation of enrolled nurse training. I hope that further work with the council will enable us to agree a firm timetable as soon as possible.A copy of the Government's response to the UKCC has been placed in the Library.