§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects all consultants to have a job plan. [154148]
§ Mr. HuttonWe expect that the great majority of consultants who have given a commitment to the new national health service consultants' contract will have agreed job plans by 31 March 2004. Where, exceptionally, NHS trusts and other employing organisations consider that it will take longer to complete the job planning process for all consultants, they have been asked to agree arrangements with their strategic health authority to complete the process as early as possible in the new financial year.