General Practice Nurses

Mr. John Marshall
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses worked for general practitioners in 1978–79, 1983–84, 1990–91 and at the latest available date, respectively.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
The number of GP practice nurses—whole-time equivalent—in England were: 888 in October 1978; 1,657 in October 1983, and 7,698 in October 1990—the latest figure available.