§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards equal opportunities in the National Health Service in the light of the documentation produced by voluntary organisations, research groups and statutory bodies pointing to the exclusion of skilled black professionals from permanent positions in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Government are committed to equal opportunity in the National Health Service, both in646W employment and in service delivery. We therefore fully supported the establishment by King Edward's Hospital Fund for London of a task force on racial equality to identify methods of promoting equal opportunities for ethnic minorities. When the task force's model policy was published in July, we urged all health authorities to use it constructively. On 4 November I chaired a seminar for health authority chairmen and general managers to consider how to improve the effectiveness of services for ethnic minorities and I shall be sending a report of the seminar to all health authorities.