To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the evidence given before the Health Committee on 21 November 2006, on NHS deficits (Question 793), what specific workforce targets were cascaded to strategic health authorities (SHA); and what assessment she has made of how each SHA has performed against such targets. (106171)

The targets for General Practitioners and consultants contained in the national health service plan were broken into indicative delivery envelopes for the 28 strategic health authorities (SHAs). Nationally the targets were met in December 2003 and December 2004 respectively. Focus was on achievement of the national target rather than the SHA envelope.