§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many junior hospital doctors in Wales are currently contracted for more than 72 hours per week; and what percentage of the total number of junior doctors in Wales this represents.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe latest returns for September 1993 showed that a total of 786 junior doctors were contracted to work for more than 72 hours per week, which represents 47 per cent. of the total number in Wales, while none was contracted to work more than an average of 83 hours per week, as required under the Government's programme to reduce the hours of junior hospital doctors. The next stage is to reduce contracted hours to 72 hours on average in hard-pressed specialties by 31 December 1994.