§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies for general practitioners there were in the Portsmouth, South constituency in(a) 1997 and (b) 2001; and if he will make a statement. [65371]
§ Ms BlearsWe are aware of the difficulties experienced in the Portsmouth area in recruiting general practitioners. The reply of my hon. Friend the Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Ms Cooper) to the hon. Member of 4 February 2002,Official Report, column 784W, set out what action was being taken locally. As stated in that answer, information collected centrally on staff vacancies is published on the Department's website.