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Mr. Dunnachie
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many agency-based nurses are employed on a casual labour basis in (a) Scottish and (b) Glasgow hospitals; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth
Information about agency nurses is collected twice yearly and the average whole-time equivalents for the quarter ending 31 March 1990 for Scotland and Glasgow hospitals are 215 and 127 respectively.
Mr. Dunnachie
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to reduce the number of trained, experienced nurses who rely for employment on agency-based casual labour; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth
The Government do not have a policy of direction of labour and nurses are free to seek employment in the public, private or voluntary sectors.