To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2007, Official Report, column 1003W, on community nurses, how many more community matrons the local intelligence suggests there are; and what revised estimate he has made of total numbers. (181015)

Strategic health authorities have suggested that the actual figure for community matrons may be higher than the official figure shown in the national health service work force census. The latest official figure still stands at 366 (351 full-time equivalent) as shown in the 2006 NHS work force census. The 2007 census is due to be published in mid-March 2008, and will provide a more up to date figure.