HC Deb 20 June 1977 vol 933 c379W
Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy on the recruitment of medical students, having regard to their future prospects of employment.

Mr. Moyle

In so far as it has been Government policy for many years to use estimates of the country's future need for doctors as a basis for deciding the intake to medical schools, employment prospects have been, and continue to be a determining factor. Present plans call for an intake of just over 4,000 a year in the early 1980s. This would provide capacity for a gradual reduction in dependence on overseas doctors and for a small growth overall in the NHS.