asked the Minister of Health what encouragement he gives to regional hospital boards to second their personnel for a tour in overseas countries of the Commonwealth; and whether those volunteering to go will lose or gain promotion in their home-based jobs.

I have asked boards to assist senior hospital medical and dental staff to accept short-term appointments overseas and to agree to second the more junior staff to overseas posts arranged by the Ministry of Overseas Development. New appointments in the hospital service are filled by competition, and any overseas experience of a doctor seeking a higher appointment on return would be taken into account.

Did the right hon. Gentleman call the attention of the boards to the agreement between the Greater London Council and the Government of Nigeria whereby teachers who volunteer for three years get accelerated promotion?

I will look into this. I assure the hon. Member that regional boards have for a very long time been encouraging their doctors to go overseas, certainly since 1952. As for arrangements within the Commonwealth, the hon. Member might be interested in the proceedings of the Commonwealth Medical Conference, which was held last autumn.