§ Mr. Jim Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many medical laboratory scientists are employed in the National Health Service, broken down into grades.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe breakdown required is available only for England and Wales:
Estimated whole-time equivalent at October 1975 Junior technician 5,820 Medical laboratory technician 3,220 Senior technician 1,250 Chief technician 1,175 Senior chief technician 475 Principal technician 50 11,990 The estimated total for Scotland—September 1975—is 1,870.
§ Mr. Jim Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the educational and technical standards required for a medical laboratory scientist to qualify for a particular grade.
§ Mr. DeakinsAn agreement of the Whitley Council requires qualified medical laboratory technicians employed in the National Health Service to hold the following qualifications:
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§ Mr. Jim Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if it is proposed to alter the educational and technical standards required for a medical laboratory scientist to qualify for a particular grade;
(2) if he has issued advice concerning the number of medical laboratory scientists holding a Higher National Certificate who should proceed to further training leading to the Fellowship of the Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences; and if he will publish in the Official Report the evidence on which this advice was given.
§ Mr. DeakinsMy Department is discussing with the Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences and other interested bodies the implications of the need for advanced training financed by the National Health Service to be related to foreseeable staffing requirements. No advice on this has been issued, and the question of any change in the grading provisions for medical laboratory technicians would be primarily for the Whitley Council.