§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of places available annually for training students in physiotherapy in each of the last 10 years; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of existing places.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyInformation on the number of pre-registration training places for physiotherapists was not collected before 1986. The available figures are for Great Britain and are as follows:
Year Number 1986 987 1987 970 1988 994 1989 1,048 The responsibility for ensuring an adequate supply of training places is a matter for regional health authorities in consultation with units providing a service. Guidance has been issued which clearly places a responsibility on regional health authorities to assess demand for training and to ensure that training places are available to meet such a demand.