§ Mr. Ifor Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of general practitioners in Wales; how many are from overseas; and how many are still needed at present.
§ Mr. Barry JonesThere were 1,290 principals providing unrestricted general medical services in Wales at 1st October 1975—the latest date for which information is available. Information about their place of birth is not yet available but at 1st October 1974, about 13 per cent. of doctors of this description in Wales were born outside the British Isles: I have no reason to believe that this percentage has changed substantially since then. Statistics about vacancies in general medical practices are not held centrally.
§ Mr. Ifor Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of doctors in the hospital service in Wales; how many are from overseas; and how many vacancies exist at present.
§ Mr. Barry Jones2,214 doctors, including some general practitioners, were employed whole time or part time in the hospital service in Wales at 30th September 1975, the latest date for which information is available. Information about their place of birth is not yet complete but at 30th September 1974, about 33 per cent. of hospital medical staff were born outside the British Isles. I have no reason to believe that this percentage has changed substantially since then. There is no comprehensive centrally held record of vacancies for hospital doctors.