§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy regarding hospitals accepting students from American medical schools for training purposes; whether such entry can occur with lower entry requirements than for British students; if capacity for British students to occupy National Health Service training places is reduced as a result; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe are committed to providing National Health Service clinical training facilities for undergraduates students admitted to British medical schools under criteria set by academic authorities. We have no responsibility for students from other medical schools with unknown entry requirements. However, we
Marital status 1979 1980 1981 1982 thousands per cent. thousands per cent. thousands per cent. thousands per cent. Lone mother 89 88 89 89 Single 16 18 19 19 Widowed 16 14 14 13 Divorced 34 35 37 38 Separated 21 21 19 19 Lone father 11 12 11 11 Total 840 870 900 930 The percentage distributions according to marital status are derived from the general household survey by averaging the results for three years, centred on the year indicated.
632Wwould expect health authorities involved in any such arrangements to observe the overriding obligations of patient care and certainly not to incur any additional costs on public funds. We have no present reason to suppose that undergraduate students from British medical schools have been deprived of appropriate clinical training, but we shall monitor the situation.