HC Deb 07 July 1987 vol 119 cc175-6
1. Sir David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that, in view of the increasing clinical demands of the National Health Service, academic medical staff have adequate time to pursue their research work as well as their teaching duties.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Robert Jackson)

The Government are aware of the pressures on senior clinical staff in the universities, who have a threefold commitment to teaching, research and patient care. In our guidance to universities and to the National Health Service we have urged close co-operation in the planning of staffing and other resources.

Sir David Price

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his first appearance at the Dispatch Box, where he so clearly belongs. May I draw his attention to recommendation No. 11 of the Select Committee on Social Services, which looked into the problem of AIDS? In that recommendation we invited my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to take a much firmer line in ensuring that moneys allocated from his budget for clinical, academic research are not abrogated for the purpose of providing clinical care by default.

Mr. Jackson

This matter has been raised by the Select Committee on Social Services in its report on AIDS. The Government are considering their recommendation on that report and will reply as soon as possible.

Mr. George Howarth

Does the Minister accept that it is high time that we stopped the pretence? Many of the academic appointments that are being made are hardly being used for academic work or research at all, but are being used to cut down waiting lists.

Mr. Jackson

It is difficult to strike a balance to try to ensure that the tripod of responsibilities for teaching, research and patient care is maintained. The Government are concerned to ensure that each of the different legs of the tripod is sustained.

Mr. Colvin

It is good to see my hon. Friend continuing the tradition of fellows of All Souls in the Department of Education and Science. Following the question of my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price), is my hon. Friend aware that the 4,000 students studying medical practice who are seconded to general practice as part of their studies are now facing under-funding? As there is no equivalent of the NHS support scheme known as SIFT—Special Increment for Teaching—will he talk to his counterpart at the Department of Health and Social Security to ensure that, between them, the two Departments cover this responsibility?

Mr. Jackson

I will certainly talk to my counterpart at the DHSS. I thank my hon. Friend for drawing my attention to the MacKenzie report. I shall have to write to him further about the matter.