Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase the number of nurses employed in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Nursing continues to be a priority area for investment.

Since May 2010, there have been record numbers of nurses working in the National Health Service in England and there are now almost 13,100 more nurses on our wards.

With over 51,000 nurses currently in training, anticipated increases in training places through the education funding reforms and return to practice numbers increasing annually we are working to ensure we have enough nurses in the NHS and care sector.

Developing new routes into nursing is a priority for the Department. That is why we have developed the new Nursing Associate role and the Nursing Degree Apprenticeship.