§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give an estimate of the shortfall in the requirement for chiropodists in the National Health Service; what steps he is taking to meet any such shortfall; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungThere is no firm basis available on which to estimate the total number of chiropodists required to sustain a fully comprehensive chiropody service. However, the numbers currently available fall well 833W short of any possible longer term planning target and I see a need for continuing steady expansion, using to the full the limited teaching and other resources available for this purpose.
I have previously referred the hon. Member to my recent replies to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Foulkes) on 3 June and the hon. Member for Ash field (Mr. Haynes) on 23 May about current plans for expansion.—[Vol. 985 c. 621–2; Vol. 985 c. 464.]