§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in the light of Sir John Burnett's public statement at the Edinburgh university convention on Saturday 18 July, a copy of which has been sent to him, he is satisfied with the provision of medical education in British universities over the last 10 years.
Mr. JacksonI have read Sir John's remarks with interest. The Government, in their joint note of guidance on medical education to universities and health authorities, have asked the University Grants Committee to give careful consideration to the level of funding it provides for medical education and to the guidance it gives to institutions. The UGC has impressed upon universities the need for decisions about clinical academic posts to be the subject of close consultation with the relevant health authorities. The Government are also examining the arrangements for co-ordination and co-operation among the relevant Departments at national level and the responses received to the recommendations on this matter by the Croham committee ("Review of the University Grants Committee", Cm. 81).