§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many ear, nose and throat consultant posts
Consultant posts in otolaryingology: Analysis by region showing number and whole-time equivalent of all posts for the years 1986, 1983 and 1979, also whole-time equivalent of posts unfilled by locums in 1986 (30 September each year) 1986 1983 19791 Consultant posts not occupied by locums Consultant posts Consultant posts Number Whole-time equivalent Whole-time equivalent Number Whole-time equivalent Number Whole-time equivalent Northern 25 23.6 — 26 23.9 26 23.6 Yorkshire 24 23.3 2.0 27 24.1 25 23.1 Trent 35 31.9 — 32 29.8 30 26.6 East Anglian 13 13.0 — 14 13.9 13 12.9 North West Thames 27 18.6 — 31 21.3 39 23.1 North East Thames 45 33.0 0.8 49 32.0 42 28.9 South East Thames 33 29.1 — 37 29.5 38 27.8 South West Thames 31 24.2 0.8 31 24.6 32 21.8 Wessex 25 23.8 1.0 27 23.8 25 22.5 Oxford 19 18.1 — 18 18.0 16 15.8 South Western 23 21.7 — 24 22.8 25 21.5 West Midlands 40 39.5 — 39 37.9 37 34.1 Mersey 17 14.3 — 17 14.9 18 14.6 North Western 36 34.7 1.0 38 35.6 35 29.3 SHA/LPGTHs 11 2.8 — 12 3.1 24 12.2 1 Due to the National Health Service restructuring in 1982, figures for 1979 are not strictly comparable.