§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies his Department has undertaken into work force planning in the last five years. [8342]
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 10 January 1996]: For medical and dental NHS staff, the Scottish Office has each year asked employers how many new consultant posts they plan to set up in the next five years, and on this basis has calculated the number of senior posts in each specialty.
394WFor nurses and midwives, an exercise was undertaken in 1994 to establish the required intakes for the five-year period commencing 1996 for the purposes of central purchasing of pre-registration education. the intake figures are subject to periodic review.