§ Alistair BurtTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to expand medical and nursing 155W schools as a result of the Wanless report; what estimate he has made of how many extra doctors and nurses will be registered to be trained as a result of the report; and if he will make a statement. [52441]
§ Mr. HuttonThe report 'Securing our Future Health: Taking a Long-Term View' (the Wanless report) does not make any recommendations on increasing the number of students entering medical or nurse training. The Government and higher education institutions are midway through the process of delivering the increased numbers of students entering medical and nursing training that were announced in 1998 and the NHS Plan. By 2004 the number of students entering nurse training will be 5,500 a year more than in 1999 and by 2005 the number of students entering medical school will be almost 2,150 a year more than in 1997.
Following the spending review settlement announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Budget, work force plans will be finalised once the public service agreement targets are agreed in summer 2002.