§ Mr. Snowasked the Minister of Health following the decision taken at the recent Commonwealth Medical Conference to provide 50 places for young doctors to serve abroad in various territories, how many doctors he estimates will not be available during the first three years for the National Health Service; and whether he is aware of the acute shortage in some areas of general practitioners.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThese appointments will be for a maximum duration of two to three years. If all the places are taken up, between 100 and 150 doctors will not be available to the National Health Service during any three year period. I am of course aware of the shortage of general practitioners and other doctors in this country, but also of the shortage of doctors in developing countries in the Commonwealth, and of the extent to which doctors from overseas work here in the National Health Service.