§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many entrants were recruited on to the NHS Management Training Scheme in each of the last six years, broken down by(a) the number and percentage of university graduates, (b) the number and percentage who are graduates of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, (c) the number and percentage with HND or an equivalent qualification and (d) region; [115983]
(2) how many in-service professionals from nursing and other clinical or health-related backgrounds were recruited on to the NHS Management Training Scheme in each of the last six years; and, within these totals, (a) how many and what percentage were graduates, (b) how many and what percentage were non-graduates and (c) how many and what percentage hold a nationally recognised managerial qualification; [115981]
(3) what the overall costs were of the NHS Management Training Scheme in each of the last six years. [115982]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Management Training Scheme is a post graduate development programme which leads to a Diploma in Health Service Management and Certificate in Managing Health Services.
The entry criteria appropriate for these programmes are a degree, or equivalent professional qualification.
Over the last six years, 22 per cent., or 87 of those recruited were from a clinical or health related background and all will have had either a first level degree or equivalent professional qualification. Since we do not distinguish between these criteria on entry, we do not have a breakdown of the numbers. Increasingly, in-service candidates have a post graduate or second degree. A management qualification will not be regarded as required or necessary for entrance to the programme, so again figures are not kept.
The cost of the scheme last year was £5 million, of which 74 per cent., relates to salaries for trainees and schemes staff. The remainder of the costs relate to the education programme costs, marketing, recruitment and selection. This represents a 6 per cent., decrease on the previous year's costs. Costs for the previous four years remained stable.
All participants on the scheme will have a degree or equivalent post graduate qualification. A Higher National Diploma does not qualify applicants for the scheme. Of all trainees over the last six years, 10 per cent., 842W have been Oxbridge graduates–40 out of 392 total. We offered eight or nine places per year in each of the old eight national health service regional offices. Applicants, however. are drawn from across the country and can choose which region they would prefer to be placed in. Choice of region will not effect the application process—many students apply during their third year of their degree and will therefore be living away from home, or in a different location from where they ultimately want to be based.