Further to the answer to question S1W-6585 by Susan Deacon on 22 August 2000, whether it will give a progress report on the steps it is tak…

The number of junior doctors, defined as doctors in training, required in the short, medium and long term is affected by a variety of major factors, making for a very complex situation.In the short term, in response to the requirements of the European Working Time Directive and of the new contract arrangements for junior doctors, action is being taken to reduce working hours and achieve compliance with those requirements, and we have committed central funding for 375 more junior doctors to support that effort. The bulk of that funding comes on stream in the next two financial years.In the medium to long term, the numbers of junior doctors required are affected by changes in the demands of service provision, the way in which service delivery is organised, patterns of work for senior doctors, patterns of training for junior doctors and the composition and outlook of the workforce.The current fundamental review of medical workforce planning by Professor John Temple which Susan Deacon announced on 20 June 2001 is gathering and examining evidence on these short, medium and long term issues and will be reporting to ministers shortly.