§ Dr. Evan Harris:To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many extra consultants between 1999 and 2004 were already planned for when the target of 7,500 extra consultants was published in July 2000; and whether these consultants were included in the figure of 7,500. [128916]
§ Mr. Hutton:The Department was already planning for a substantial expansion in consultant numbers. The NHS Plan target of 7,500 consultants was based on identified need for additional growth to meet the service targets.