HC Deb 11 June 1979 vol 968 cc105-6W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will announce his policy regarding the establishment of a sub-consultant grade as an extra level in hospital doctor career structure to be a permanent career post between that of registrar and consultant.

Dr. Vaughan

The present career structure agreement negotiated between my Department and the medical profession does not allow for the establishment of a permanent sub-consultant grade. The need for changes in this structure was one of the problems highlighted in my Department's recent discussion paper "Medical Manpower—the next 20 years" a copy of which is in the Library. In the coming months I shall be consulting the profession about revising the agreement in the light of comments received on that paper.