§ 6. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Health how many citizens of India, Pakistan, West Africa and the West Indies, respectively, occupy junior medical officer posts in hospitals; and what percentage these doctors form of the total number of hospital junior medical officers.
§ Mr. PowellI regret this information is not available.
§ Mr. BoydenDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the valuable services given by these citizens to this country is partially hiding the shortage of English-born and English-trained doctors in the hospital services? What steps is the right hon. Gentleman taking in conjunction with the University Grants Committee to stimulate an increase in the supply of doctors both in training and taken into the service in a few years' time?
§ Mr. PowellI agree that these doctors furnish very valuable help, though of course in return a good deal of training which is valuable to them later on in their own countries is obtained. My information is that the number of medical students is on the increase.
§ Dr. SummerskillIn view of the information which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has given me about the disproportionate number of women who are refused admission to the London medical schools, can the right hon. Gentleman tell me whether there is any follow-up of these very bright students who would make good doctors, in order to see that they are found vacancies in other hospitals and are not lost to the profession?
§ Mr. PowellI should like to consider that in detail if the right hon. Lady will allow me.