§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued to health workers for each of the top 10 medical specialties in each of the last 10 years. [155984]
§ Beverley HughesThe total number of work permits approved by the top 10 medical specialties from 2000 to the third quarter of 2003, the period for which information is available, is as follows:
Number of work permits approved 2000 Hospital consultants (undefined) 1,917 Pharmacist 415 Dentist 302 Psychiatrist 121 Radiographer 99 Occupational Therapist 90 Optician 58 Speech Therapist 42 Anaesthetist 35 Psychologist 34 Total 3,113 2001 Hospital consultants (undefined) 2,141 Pharmacist 474 Dentist 319 Physiotherapist 261 Psychiatrist 240 Radiographer 155 Occupational Therapist 135 Optician 97 Speech Therapist 63 Anaesthetist 43 Total 3,928 2002 Hospital consultants (undefined) 5,900 Pharmacist 443 Radiographer 390 Physiotherapist 378 Dentist 357 Psychiatrist 352 Occupational Therapist 238 Anaesthetist 213 Optician 194 Biomedical Scientist 181 Total 8,646 2003 (Figures for the first three quarters only) Hospital consultants (undefined) 6,970 Radiographer 364 Pharmacist 315 Physiotherapist 311 Dentist 293 Psychiatrist 262 Occupational Therapist 163 Anaesthetist 156 Speech Therapist 155 Biomedical Scientist 130 Total 9,119