§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest conveniently available estimate of the shortage of physiotherapists in Scotland; what steps he is taking to expand the number of training school places available; and what steps he is taking to provide an adequate number of trained teachers of physiotherapy.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThere is a shortage of physiotherapists in Scotland, but as there is no recognised establishment this is difficult to quantify. I am at present having consultations with the Eastern Regional Hospital Board on the possibility of establishing anew school of physiotherapy at Dundee which would help the situation in the longer term. Special arrangements have been made to enable physiotherapists from the areas most affected by a teacher shortage to undertake teacher training courses. In whole-time equivalent terms the number of physiotherapists employed in the hospital service in Scotland has increased since 1969.