asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the representation made to the Department of Health regarding nurses' salaries; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the representation recently made by the Standing Conference of Women's Organisations (Edinburgh) regarding the differences in the scales of pay for male and female nurses. A similar representation has been made to the Wheatley Committee, the body responsible for making recommendations on salaries payable to nurses in Scotland, and I am awaiting that committee's views.