§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average hours worked weekly by junior doctors in Scottish hospitals since 1989; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythInformation on the actual number of hours worked by junior doctors is not available centrally. The average number of hours for which junior doctors were contracted was 85.5 in 1989 and 85.1 in 1990; these figures include time spent on call after normal hours as well as those spent working during the day.
The Government are committed to reducing junior doctors' hours of work to acceptable levels and a major package of guidance about the implementation of the "heads of agreement" which was reached with the profession last year is to be issued to health boards shortly.