§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take about the practice employed by Calderdale district health authority of buying in agency medical locums costing two and a half times as much as junior doctors; what information he has about the effect of this on the district health authority budget; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Currie[holding answer 13 November 1987]: I understand that several regional health authorities, including Yorkshire, are considering steps to contain the cost of employing medical staff from agencies and we shall be monitoring progress.
The allocation of available resources within Calderdale district is a matter for the health authority and the hon. Member may wish to approach the chairman about this.