§ Mr. McTaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the filling of posts of senior house officer in orthopaedic surgery in Scottish health board areas; and if he will list the number of such posts unfilled.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythInformation on the number of vacant senior house officer posts is not held centrally. Recruitment of hospital medical staff is a matter for individual health boards, but I am aware that some posts at senior house officer grade in orthopaedic surgery are difficult to fill from time to time. I am not aware of any serious problems on the delivery of service.