asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the Government's policy on the training of psychiatric nurses following implementation of their decision to incorporate wards for the treatment of psychiatric patients in district general hospitals.

General policy on training for psychiatric nursing is within the terms of reference of the Committee on Nursing, under the Chairmanship of Professor Asa Briggs, whose report is expected in the summer. Current training policy, agreed with the General Nursing Council and promulgated in 1966, is that psychiatric units in general hospitals should participate with hospitals for the mentally ill in the training of psychiatric nurses. Progress has not been as fast as was hoped and the Department, in consultation with the Council, is considering how best to encourage the establishment of more linked training schemes.House adjourned at thirteen minutes before seven o'clock.