§ Mr. PatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will hold discussions with the Trent regional health authority about the ratio of male to female consultants employed by the region.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Department, through the Opportunty 2000 scheme launched by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, has set the NHS the goal of improving the ratio of male to female consultants to four to one by 1994. Regional health authorities will be required to monitor appointments procedures and to ensure that all appointments committees receive equal opportunities training. The Department will shortly be scrutinising Trent's action plan for meeting all the goals set by Opportunity 2000 and will contine to hold discussions with the authority about the action to be taken to improve opportunities for women in medicine.