HC Deb 21 January 1975 vol 884 cc281-2W
Mr. Jim Lester

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the fact that applications for medical training as doctors are in the proportion of 500 applications for each place, if she will propose a large increase in training facilities so as to provide extra medical staff for the National Health Service.

Dr. Owen

I understand that, after eliminating duplicate applications, the ratio of appropriately qualified school leavers to medical school places is 4 to 1. Medical school intake has already increased from 2,695 in 1970 to an estimated 3,280 in 1974, and is planned to reach about 4,000 by the end of the decade. This will considerably enhance our capacity to maintain and develop the medical staffing of the National Health Service.