§ 9. Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation how many doctors and sister tutors have been 215 seconded for duty in developing countries since the acceptance by Her Majesty's Government of the recommendations of the Porritt Committee.
Mr. CarrNineteen doctors but no sister tutors. Two senior nurses, however, have been sent out to teaching posts.
§ Mr. BoydenIs not this shocking in view of the fact that the Porritt Committee, when making its recommendations two years ago, said then that the secondment of sister tutors was urgent? The right hon. Gentleman's Department has had at least a year since then to approve the recommendations. Why this indecision?
Mr. CarrThe question relates only to secondment which is a small part of the D.T.C. medical activities. Since last March 115 qualified medical staff and nearly 100 nursing staff, in addition to those I have mentioned, have been recruited and sent overseas. It was because of the urgent need to do this that we set up the Porritt Committee to advise my Department and to influence the medical profession.
§ Mr. BoydenThis is one of the things the Committee recommended. Would the right hon. Gentleman consider publishing a report in the near future about the first year's working of the Porritt recommendation so that we can see what is going on?
Mr. CarrThe first year is still a way from being completed. I am considering the point. I am sure the House will realise that we cannot compel people in these categories to go overseas; we must persuade.
§ Mr. G. M. ThomsonAre not some sort of arrangements made for secondment to apply to sister tutors and other nurses going abroad, as in the teaching profession?
Mr. CarrIt is much more difficult in the medical profession. This is one of the matters which we have asked the Porritt Committee to go into most urgently.