§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he proposes to reduce the working hours of hospital doctors; and if he will make a statement. [43689]
§ Mr. MilburnAction to reduce junior doctors' hours continues to make progress. The figures for March 1998 show that reported compliance with the target of a maximum average of 56 hours a week now stands at 83.3 per cent. of all junior doctors. Regional task forces will continue to work closely with trusts to tackle the remaining problem posts, which now number 4,999, or one in six of all doctors in training.