§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many civil servants in his Department are medically qualified; and how many of them have practical experience of working as general practitioners within the last five years.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeOn 1 November 1984 there were 312 medically qualified civil servants working in medical posts in our Department. We estimate that about 50 of these will have worked as general practitioners within the last five years. This includes all those appointed within that time to the regional medical service and the 51W majority of those appointed to the division dealing with the medical aspects of social security. Doctors going to other posts only occasionally come directly from general practice, although a number have been recruited direct from posts in hospital practice.