To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will provide for 1986–87, or the latest figures available, a breakdown of the reasons for the absence of consultants from National Health Service hospitals with regard to (a) study leave, (b) holidays, (c) sick leave and (d) other;(2) what is the latest cost of providing locums for National Health Service consultants; how much of this is to cover the cost of study leave; and if he will provide comparable figures for previous years.

I regret that this information is not collected centrally.