§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the doctor shortage in the National Health Service in Great Britain between 1951 and 1969; and what is the expected shortage in 1970 to 1975.
§ Mr. AlisonThere is no fixed complement of doctors in the general medical services of the National Health Service, nor an agreed ratio of doctors to patients in the hospital service, against which a shortage can be precisely assessed. The number of entry places at British Medical schools continues to rise; it is planned to reach 3,700 by 1975.