asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date he received an application for authorisation of an advertisement for a medical assistant for the Regional Eye Centre in South-end; on what date he consulted the Central Manpower Committee; and what length of time is normally required by the Central Manpower Committee to consider applications of a, similar kind.

This application, dated 27 December 1978, was received in my Department by 3 January. Normal procedure is for applications of this kind to be considered by a sub-committee of the Central Manpower Committee which meets several times a year. In view of the urgency, and after consultation with medical colleagues, my officials sent this application and several others to the chairman and junior doctor member of the committee on 19 January. We would normally expect to receive a reply within a few weeks.