§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study he has made of the results of the report recently published on doctors' career decisions by the Institute of Manpower Studies; and what value the report has for the assessment of the popularity of some consultant specialities and in modifying methods whereby postgraduate training for unpopular and incompletely filled consultant specialities can be made more popular and lucrative.
§ Dr. VaughanThe report "The Determinants of Doctors' Career Decisions", published by the Institute of Manpower Studies in 1979, was based on research commissioned by the Department in 1977. It showed a doctor's choice of career involves many factors—for example, 91 per cent. of respondents attached great importance to positive interest in the work of the specialty and 23 per cent. to remuneration.
The Department is particularly concerned to improve recruitment to the shortage specialties and to encourage opportunities for part time work for doctors with domestic commitments, and the report has been studied with care. It has no doubt also provided useful information to the colleges, faculties and higher-training committees in carrying out their responsibilities for the training of doctors.