HC Deb 14 March 1968 vol 760 c1606
32. Mr. Clifford Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students of medicine have qualified as doctors in each succeeding year from 1960 to 1967.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

As the reply contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Williams

Is my hon. Friend aware that, due to the wastage in the profession and the increase in the population, there will be a severe shortage of doctors in the near future? What plans have been prepared to meet this situation?

Mrs. Williams

My hon. Friend will know that, following the report of the Willink Committee in 1957, the previous Government reduced the number of medical students. We have now recovered this situation, both by opening a new medical school in Southampton and by setting up a Royal Commission on medical education, which is due to report next month. As a result, there are already 500 extra medical places planned, which will shortly improve the situation.

Following is the information:

The numbers of students obtaining a first registrable medical qualification in universities in Great Britain in the academic years from 1960–61 to 1966–67 were:

1960–61 1,844
1961–62 1,776
1962–63 1,844
1963–64 1,731
1964–65 1,805
1965–66 1,939
1966–67 1,933