asked the Minister of Health how many doctors were employed in hospitals in the Sheffield region at the latest possible date; and how many vacancies now exist.

About 1,310 in terms of whole time equivalents at 30th September, 1965. Some 80 posts are vacant.

Would my hon. Friend take into account that there are other factors besides salaries which are causing the shortage of doctors in this region? May I ask him to consult his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science to make more places available in our medical schools, especially for women students?

I should like my hon. Friend to know that the figures I gave him represented a substantial increase on the numbers in the previous year. We appreciate that there is a need for a greater outflow of medical students, but the outflow is increasing. We estimate that there should be about 1,710 British-born graduates this year. We have improved the position considerably.