§ Mr. AlexanderTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many intakes of midwifery students were cancelled in 1985, 1986 and 1987 in each year ended 30 September; and what are the most recently available staffing figures.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that information on the numbers of intakes cancelled is not collected centrally.
The latest available detailed staffing information is September 1986 and this shows:
National Health Service midwifery staff excluding agency staff at 30 September 1986: England Wholetime equivalents1 Qualified midwives 18,670 Student midwives 4,180 1 Figures are independently rounded to nearest ten (10) wholetime equivalents.