§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many district health authorities in England and Wales employ no qualified clinical psychologists.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThis information is not available centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many district health authorities in England and Wales have designated or appointed a clinical psychologist whose duties include the management and co-ordination of psychological services in their district.
129W
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe information requested is not held centrally. This responsibility has been devolved to health authorities. The relevant Whitley council agreement includes grading definitions which incorporate management and co-ordination duties.
§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many qualified clinical psychologists are employed in each regional secure unit or interim regional secure unit.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThis information is not held centrally.
§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many trainee clinical psychologists are being financed by the National Health Service in England and Wales during the current financial year.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe figure is 210 probationer clinical psychologists at 30 September 1981, the latest date for which statistical returns are available.
§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make arrangements for including the number of clinical psychologists, analysed by grade, employed by health authorities in the annual publications of Health Service statistics for England and Wales;
(2) if he will make arrangements for including the number of clinical psychologists employed by each district health authority in the annual publication of Health Service statistics in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe annual publication of health and personal social services statistics is intended to provide a broad summary of information on the National Health Service, and it would not be appropriate to include the level of detail suggested.
§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the qualifications for clinical psychologists which are recognised by the Whitley councils for the Health Service are acceptable for work in other countries of the European Community.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergApplications for posts in other countries of the European Community, made by clinical psychologists qualified under the terms of the Whitley council, are dealt with on their individual merit. The prospective employing authority would no doubt take into account both academic qualifications and practical experience relevant to the post sought.
§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the qualifications of those psychologists who have trained in other countries of the European Community are acceptable to the Whitley councils for the Health Service for work in the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe NHS employs only clinical psychologists. Applications for NHS posts by overseas candidates are examined on their individual merit. The candidate must produce documentary evidence of eligibility for nomination for election to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society, which entails holding a master's degree, or equivalent, in psychology; and evidence of relevant experience equivalent to the application of skills within the National130W Health Service. Questions of doubt, and applications for the most senior posts, are referred for decision to the joint secretaries of the appropriate Whitley council.