§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the results of the national survey of the work load of 274 NHS consultants. [540]
§ Mr. MaloneI refer the hon. Member to the Medical Workforce Standing Advisory Committee's second report, which refers to a survey conducted by the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association in 1992–93 on the amount of time spent by its members on purely management activities. The committee's report is available in the Library.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will institute an inquiry into the arrangements for and costs of(a) each retirement of consultants and (b) their subsequent re-employment on a part-time basis. [1800]
§ Mr. MaloneMost pension arrangements cover all staff groups, including consultants. Data on the cost of consultant retirements, and their subsequent re-employment on a part-time basis, are not available centrally. I have no plans to institute an inquiry on costs for consultants as a separate group.