§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to encourage more men to attend medical school; and if he will make a statement. [70054]
§ Mr. HuttonThe overall number of medical school places is being increased by 2,150 places over 1997 levels. The increase will have been delivered by autumn 2005. As part of this increase 10 medical schools will be offering shortened graduate entry 4 year courses to students with appropriate qualifications. This is intended to broaden the base of medical school intake.
Since 1997 the number of male entrants to medical school increased by over 250. We expect that trend to continue as the remaining new places come on stream.
Both the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills are committed to ensuring that there is a balanced and diverse medical student population of the requisite quality to meet the demand for doctors. This is a matter for ongoing discussion with the universities and medical schools. The Department and Higher Education Funding Council for England joint medical expansion group will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Universities are autonomous bodies who are responsible for operating their own application systems but they collectively adhere to the "Guiding Principles for the Admission of Medical Students" issued by the Council of Heads of Medical Schools in February 1999. This guidance follows principles of fairness, diversity and equity in access.