HC Deb 13 July 1982 vol 27 cc843-4
8. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to give his response to the report from the Social Services Committee entitled "University Grants Committee Cuts and Medical Services".

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

We are urgently considering the recommendations that the Committee made in its report. We hope to lay our response before the House shortly.

Mrs. Short

Assuming that the Minister has read the report by now, is he aware that the cut in the University Grants Committee resources to medical schools and universities is causing considerable anxiety in the medical schools? About 300 academic posts are frozen, affecting not only teaching but the research and patient care that academic staff carry out in National Health Service hospitals. Will he be able to find the £10 million that is required by the end of 1983–84 to put the matter right?

Mr. Clarke

I have, of course, read the Select Committee's report. With respect, the Committee has drawn some dramatic conclusions from some of the evidence that it received. My inquiries reveal—and we have had a survey—that so far 35 hospital posts with a substantial clinical content have been withdrawn, and that, of those, six have been taken over by the National Health Service. Those figures should be seen against a total of 35,000 hospital doctors throughout the country and an increase of more than 1,500 hospital doctors during the Government's period of office.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

Is it not regrettable that the Government imposed cuts on the universities in the first place, and deplorable that those cuts should find their way through to the Health Service? Is it not unfortunate that they will have an impact on the specialist shortages, particularly for the elderly, psycho geriatrics, and so on? Does the hon. and learned Gentleman agree that the Government should now reverse their policy of cutting money for universities and make good the necessary money both for the Health Service and education services in general?

Mr. Clarke

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has explained that university spending cannot be exempt from the restraints to which all public spending is subject. Medical education is the most expensive form of higher education, and in the past it has been exempted from all cuts. This time it has not been singled out for special treatment; it is having to bear its share. However, we are concerned about the possible risk that might arise in the shortage specialty services. We have already drawn the matter to the attention of the University Grants Committee and the universities so that they can draw up their own priorities and decide where to make economies.

Mr. Rees-Davies

I agree with much of what my hon. and learned Friend said on this matter. However, does he agree that he should make an early response, because there is a good deal of misunderstanding about the extent of the cuts? Cuts there undoubtedly are, and cuts were expected. I hope that my hon. and learned Friend will make the matter plain as soon as possible for the reasons that I have given.

Mr. Clarke

I accept my hon. and learned Friend's advice that it would be as well to make an early response, because it is important to get the impact on the Health Service into perspective. For the reasons that I have given, I think that the impact on patient care is comparatively slight.