§ 4. Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation how many British doctors and nurses he expects to recruit this year for service in Northern Rhodesia.
§ Mr. R. CarrWe have been asked to supply 20 medical officers. So far we have three British doctors in line for appointment, but this is a very difficult field and we are not confining our 1427 recruiting efforts to this country. I cannot yet say how many we are likely to recruit this year. Fifty staff nurses have been asked for and there are good prospects of supplying them.
§ Mr. BoydenIs not the situation very disappointing? Even if the 20 were appointed, how far would this go to replace wastage in the existing service?
§ Mr. CarrThe doctor recruitment situation is very difficult and serious. We have, for example, on our books 230 vacancies for doctors and medical specialists for 38 countries, and only half the number of British doctors who are needed are coming forward. This matter is receiving special attention from a special panel of the Porritt Committee and I am expecting a report from that panel very shortly.
§ Mr. G. M. ThomsonApart from the difficulties in the supply of doctors, which are understood, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the time taken to meet these applications from overseas countries? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of them are complaining that his Department takes a great deal longer to deal with these applications than, say, the equivalent department in the Federal Republic of Germany?
§ Mr. CarrI am, of course, aware that these countries need these doctors and other specialists very quickly, and when we find difficulty in recruiting and we are slow in finding people there is disappointment. I have been looking into these difficulties and I am satisfied that any slowness is due to the shortage of supply and not to any procedural red tape. Procedural red tape is something that we are constantly getting our knife to.