Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) the Royal College of Nursing, (2) the Royal College of Midwives, and (3) UNISON, as a consequence of the fall since 2016 reported by UCAS in the number of applications to universities to study for nursing degrees.

Ministers routinely meet nursing leaders and discuss a range of issues, including recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives.

The Government remains committed to reforming nursing, midwifery and allied health pre-registration education and increasing the number of places available for students so that two in three nursing applicants are no longer turned down for a place; at the same time ensuring these students have more money available to them while they study.

Health Education England is confident that the National Health Service will have the required number of students it needs starting courses this year and will continue to work with the education sector to deliver these reforms successfully for the longer term.