HC Deb 28 January 2004 vol 417 cc405-6W
Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of tuition fees on the number of doctors choosing to work abroad after qualification. [151120]

Alan Johnson

There is no reason to expect a significant effect. The Government have no evidence that there is a problem of more doctors leaving the UK permanently to work overseas. Doctors earn considerably in excess of the national average. So medical graduates will be able to pay off their student loan for living costs and for tuition fees comparatively rapidly.