To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many vacant posts of consultant paediatricians and senior registrars specializing in paediatrics have been notified in each of the past five years; on average how long it takes to fill such posts; and if he will make a statement.
The information is as follows, at September in each year:
| Vacant posts | ||
| Consultant paediatricians | Senior registrars | |
| 1988 | 3 | 1 |
| 1989 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990 | 3 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 2 |
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many consultant paediatricians and senior registrars are currently in post.
There are currently 26 consultant paediatricians and 11 senior registrars employed in the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) consultant paediatricians and (b) senior registrars currently employed were trained in (i) Northern Ireland, (ii) elsewhere in the United Kingdom, (iii) other European Community countries and (iv) countries outwith the EC.
The information sought is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.