§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what is his policy on setting up a medical school using private finance.
Mr. JacksonAny proposal to alter the present arrangements whereby medical schools receive public funds via the University Grants Committee (or, from 1 April, the Universities Funding Council) would need to be considered on its merits by my right hon. Friend together with the Secretary of State for Health. Important factors would include the demand for trained doctors, and the General Medical Council's involvement in setting and maintaining standards.
Undergraduates on pre-clinical and clinical medicine courses 1987–88 Universities in: England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland United Kingdom Full-time 14,791 754 3,498 724 19,767 Part-time 20 — 48 30 98 Of which domiciled in Wales Full-time 649 304 28 4 985 Part-time — — — — — Most students following clinical medicine courses are in hospitals for much of their courses.