§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the shortages of qualified anaesthetists in NHS trusts. [20325]
§ Mr. MaloneRepresentations have been received from various trusts and the Royal College of Anaesthetists.
I recently announced additional funding of £5.7 million in 1996–97 to provide a significant increase in training opportunities for doctors wishing to become consultants. In anaesthetics, the increase for 1996–97 is substantial and regional postgraduate deans will be expected to target the available resources on those specialities such as anaesthetics which are most in need.
Information for the 1988–89 and 1994–95 Sessions is shown in the table Session Number answered "disproportionate cost" Percentage of total answered Number answered "not answered available centrally" Percentage of total answered 1988–89 71 0.72 71 2.14 1994–95 12 0.25 176 3.64 Source:
POLIES and JUSTIS Parliamentary.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average cost of answering an(a) oral and (b) written parliamentary question from (i) Opposition and (ii) Conservative hon. Members in each Session since 1989–90. [21796]