asked the Minister for Health if he will consider improving the system of recruitment of nursing staff to teaching hospitals so that potential nurses might apply to a central agency for acceptance rather than having to apply to a number of hospitals in the hope of being accepted by one.

I am awaiting the recommendations of the working party on general nursing, which has been asked to examine the feasibility of a national or regional scheme for processing such applications. The working party has set up a committee to examine the matter with a view to making recommendations to me in advance of its final report.