§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the shortfall in radiographers for therapeutic purposes in each area health authority;
(2) what is the shortfall in radiographers for diagnostic purposes in each area health authority.
§ Mr. Alec JonesInformation on the numbers of staff in post in the new area health authority areas is not yet available. Information on shortfall is not kept centrally and, indeed, there is no nationally accepted standard of complementing for radiographers which would enable the extent of the shortage to be identified objectively. I would refer my hon. Friend to the overall numbers said to be required at 1st April 1972 in each region in my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for the Isle of Ely (Mr. Freud) on 7th November 1974—[Vol. 880 c.217–8]. I shall write to my hon. Friend giving a breakdown of these figures as between diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage of students to fully trained radiographers; how many students are at present in training; what indications there are of the numbers applying for training in the next session; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alec JonesInformation on the number of students actually in training or on the number applying for training is not available centrally. In 1973 the total student intake in England was 932 and the total number who qualified was 663; the length of courses varies between two and three years. These figures can be related to the number of 4,878 qualified staff in post—whole-time equivalent—at 30th September 1973.