§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning proposals for a York-Hull Medical School; and what assessment he has made of them. [146034]
§ Mr. HuttonI am aware that the Universities of Hull and York have submitted a proposal for the establishment of a joint medical school. This is one of 22 proposals submitted by higher education institutions in England to provide the extra medical school places indicated in the NHS Plan in December 2000. Responsibility for the allocation of medical student places in England lies with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and I am unable to comment on the individual proposals that have been submitted.
A joint implementation group of officials from the Department of Health, HEFCE and the General Medical Council, which is jointly chaired by Professor Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer and Sir Brian Fender, Chief Executive of HEFCE, will be considering these proposals and making recommendations to HEFCE about where the extra places should be allocated. The group is currently considering the proposals and will make their recommendations later this year.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision there is for medical training in the North East. [146033]
§ Mr. HuttonThere are medical schools at Newcastle University and Leeds University which come within the Northern and Yorkshire region of the National Health Service Executive.