HC Deb 18 March 1964 vol 691 cc175-6W
Mr. Dempsey

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish details showing the population figures for 1953 and 1963, respectively, and the number of general practitioners for the same years actually practising; and what estimate he has made of the number of general practitioners who emigrated during this period.

Mr. Noble

Between the end of 1953 and the end of 1963 the population of Scotland increased from 5,090,900 to 5,190,500, and the number of general practitioners practising as principals under the National Health Service from 2,466 to 2,657. I have no information about the number of general practitioners who emigrated during this period.

Mr. Dempsey

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many qualified doctors passed through Scottish universities between 1953 and 1963 and what estimate he has made of the number of these who found employment in Scotland.

Mr. Noble

The number of students who obtained a first medical degree from the Scottish universities in each of the years from 1953 to 1963 was as follows:—

1953 342
1954 384
1955 454
1956 462
1957 411
1958 429
1959 439
1960 430
1961 439
1962 355
1963 392

The information requested in the second part of the question is not available; but a special investigation carried out in 1962 of the students who graduated in 1957 showed that 331 were initially employed in the National Health Service in Scotland, and that of these 142 were still so employed in 1962.