§ 23. Mr. Wainwrightasked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science if he will state the number of medical students whose application for university training was refused because of the shortage of places for the years 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1963, respectively.
§ Mr. WainwrightCan the right hon. and learned Gentleman inform the House what the Government intend to do to increase the number of places in our medical training schools? Will he say how many women students there are at the moment and how many have been refused places in our universities?
§ Mr. HoggThe hon. Member will have seen the announcement of 19th December of a new medical school. The ultimate number of places depends upon the requirements, which are not primarily a question for me.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman say why this information is not available? Is it not only of public interest but vitally important to the Government for planning the National Health Service? Could he not perfectly easily get the information if he wanted it?
§ Mr. HoggNo, I have tried to get the information and I have said that it is not available. One of the difficulties is the problem of multiple application.
§ 24. Mr. Wainwrightasked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science if he will give the number 190 of medical students registered at universities for the years 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1963, respectively.
§ Mr. HoggAs the Answer contains a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. WainwrightWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman say what the Government intend to do to make certain that the numbers of general practitioners are increased? Is he satisfied that the present maximum figure of 3,500 patients per doctor is a correct one? Does he agree that it should be decreased to at least 2,500? Does he agree that the first Report, which the Government accepted with alacrity, was the Willink Report, which recommended a 10 per cent. reduction of places for medical students?
§ Mr. HoggThe hon. Member will be aware that questions relating to the number of medical students are matters for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.
Following is the table:The numbers are, respectively:
October 1959 … … 12,314 October 1960 … … 12,276 October 1961 … … 12,254 October 1962 … … 12,550 October 1963 … … 12,890