To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the strategic learning and research advisory committee last discussed NHS training budgets; and what advice the committee has given her about (a) NHS training needs and (b) the cost of meeting those needs in the immediate future. (95212)

The strategic learning and research advisory group (StLaR) last discussed training budgets at its meeting on 20 June 2006.

StLaR members recommended a monitoring regime in 2006-07 on the impact of allocations and subsequent local NHS decisions on higher education institutions. The outcome of this work, being undertaken by Universities UK/Council of Deans, will be discussed at the next meeting of StLaR in December 2006. More detailed engagement of relevant bodies, including Universities UK, in workforce planning was also recommended.

StLaR provides advice via Permanent Secretaries of the Department and the Department for Education and Skills at a strategic level and therefore does not make specific recommendations on the detail of training numbers or projected costs.