HC Deb 20 July 2001 vol 372 cc728-9W
Mr. Goodman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS consultants there were in(a) England and (b) Buckingham in each year since 1980. [5642]

Mr. Hutton

Data showing the number of consultants working in the NHS in England for each year since 1987, and in Buckinghamshire for each year since 1994, are shown in the table.

Information regarding the number of consultants employed in the NHS in England prior to 1987 was not collected centrally. Prior to 1994 it is not possible to identify figures for the number of consultants working in Buckinghamshire.

Hospital, public health medicine and community health service medical and dental services
Number
As at 30 September England Buckinghamshire
1987 14,870 n/a
1988 15,200 n/a
1989 15,720 n/a

Hospital, public health medicine and community health service medical and dental services
Number
As at 30 September England Buckinghamshire
1990 16,370 n/a
1991 16,670 n/a
1992 17.140 n/a
1993 17,490 n/a
1994 18,050 210
1995 19,420 230
1996 20,300 230
1997 21,370 230
1998 22,220 240
1999 23,220 260
2000 24,310 270

Notes:

1. "n/a" denotes not known. Prior to 1994 some data were returned directly by the Oxfordshire region. It is therefore not possible to identify individual organisation's contribution to these figures.

2. Figures rounded to the nearest 10. "0" denotes less than 5. Source:

Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

Derek Twigg

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by health authority the average number of hours per week consultants spend working in the NHS at the latest date for which figures are available. [5426]

Mr. Hutton

Information is not held centrally or across health authorities on the average number of hours per week worked by consultants in the national health service. For information on the types of contract held by consultants, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 23 April 2001,Official Report, column 175W.