§ Mr. OrmeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made since the NHS executive letter of 28 June 1995 in facilitating the release of medical personnel for voluntary work overseas, with special reference to Medical Emergency Relief International; what new proposals he has to facilitate their release; and if he will make a statement. [19610]
§ Mr. MaloneExecutive letter (95)69 makes plain that decisions on whether to release staff to work overseas are matters for local national health service employers. I understand that a number of trusts have made 473W agreements with Voluntary Services Overseas about releasing health professionals to work in developing countries.