§ 26. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Minister of Health how many whole-time consultants have transferred to part-time maximum sessions in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe information asked for is not immediately available. I am having the necessary inquiries made and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Mr. RobinsonDoes not the Minister agree that this information ought to be available to Parliament? Does he not also agree that these transfers from whole-time to part-time, however financially advantageous they may be to consultants, are detrimental to the hospital service and should be discouraged not only by his Department but also by the Inland Revenue?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithIn reply to the first part of the hon. Member's supplementary question, this information will be available when I have made inquiries. I am glad to tell him, however, that at the end of this year the improved statistical procedures which we have instituted will enable such information to be given without making these individual inquiries. On the second part of the supplementary question, the hon. Member will be aware of the safeguarding of part-time consultant work by Section 12 of the National Health Service (Amendment) Act, 1949. As to the third part of the question, we had better wait and see whether the Royal Commission has anything to say on this matter when it reports.