§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he intends to introduce legislation to limit the working week of junior doctors to 72 hours; or to recommend such a maximum; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe group on junior doctors' hours, which I chair, is considering a variety of changes in working practices in order to reduce onerous hours of work.
All parties on the ministerial group are aiming to reach broad agreement in principle on specific changes by the end of the year.
The Government have accepted an average 72-hour week for junior hospital doctors as a sensible long-term objective.