§ Mr. BoyceTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her proposals to increase the number of women specialists.
§ Mr. SackvilleAn increase in the number of women consultants is one of the goals of the Government's Opportunity 2000 initiative. Guidance has been issued on equal opportunities in the recruitment and selection of medical staff and objectives have been set for health authorities and trusts relating to the monitoring of candidates and the provision of training and guidance for chairs and other members of appointments committees. Steps are being taken to provide improved opportunities for flexible working and training—a report by the joint working party on flexible training is shortly to be published—and the reduction in the number of hours for which junior doctors are contracted will also make it easier for women with domestic commitments to undertake higher specialist training. In the surgical specialities, where the proportion of women is particularly low, the Department is providing funding to promote the women in surgical training scheme.