§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of full-time and part-time consultants employed at present in the National Health Service and the number of consultants on the committee with which he negotiates who are full-time and the number who are part-time; how many academic consultants serve on the negotiating committee; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThe most recent published figures show that at 30th September 1976 there were 12,328 consultants employed in the National Health Service in England and Wales of whom 5,187 held whole-time contracts, 5,778 held part-time contracts, and 1,363 were honorary consultants. The composition of the committee with which my officials are negotiating a new consultant contract is a matter for the staff side. It includes five part-timers and four whole-timers including two academics.