§ 17. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many women medical students began training at the beginning of this academic year; and how many will begin training in October, 1969.
§ Mrs. Shirley Williams683 women students, just over a quarter of all medical students, entered pre-clinical medical courses in universities in Great Britain in October, 1968, the highest figure ever. It is not possible to forecast yet how many will do so in October, 1969.
§ Mrs. ShortI thank my hon. Friend for that Answer. Is she aware that last October the U.C.C.A. said that about 259 medical training places had not been taken up? Does not this make the numerical clauses applying to women students indefensible? Will she do all she can to see that this ridiculous barrier which prevents women students from being trained is removed?
§ Mrs. WilliamsI am glad, in answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, to assure her that the figure to which she referred has been shown to be incorrect and that there is no difference between the number of places and the demand for them. They are absolutely equivalent.
To answer the second part, there is evidence to show that the numerical clauses to which she referred are not operated in practice in most medical schools. According to the Royal Commission on Medical Education, the advice of which we take strongly, the treatment of both sexes should be absolutely equal.
Mr. R. C. MitchellWould my hon. Friend reaffirm the Government's intention to press on at all speed with the new medical school at Southampton University?
§ Mrs. WilliamsMy hon. Friend need have no fear about that. We certainly intend to do so.