Mr. Bill Esterson.

Question one, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.

And in addition to my duties in this House, I shall have further such meetings later today.

Mr. Bill Esterson.

The Royal College of Midwives has called the Government's plans to cut nurses' student grants appalling.

The Royal College of Nursing says they are deeply concerned.

Meanwhile, the Honourable Member for Lewis, who is a nurse, says she would have struggled

to undertake her nurse training given the proposed changes to the Bursary Scheme.

So why does the Prime Minister still think he is right

to scrap grants for student nurses?

Yes.

For the very simple reason that we want to see more nurses in training and more nurses

in our NHS. And we believe there will be an additional 10,000 nurses because of this change, because the

facts are today, two out of three people who want to become nurses can't because it's

constrained by the bursary scheme.

Moving to the new system, those people who want to become nurses will be able to become

nurses.

Andrew Griffiths.

Mr Speaker, the number one responsibility of will be able to become nurses. Andrew Griffiths.

The number one responsibility of any government is the protection of its people.

...