§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on matching the number of consultant vacancies to the number of qualified trainees. [167061]
§ Mr. HuttonWe are investing in future growth in the medical workforce by increasing both medical school places and specialist registrar training places. We have already exceeded the autumn 2005 England medical school intake target of 5,894, two years early. In autumn 2003, intake was 6,030 compared with 3,749 in autumn 1997 and as at 30 September 2003, there were 14,619 specialist registrars working in the national health service, an increase of 2,709 since September 1997.