To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the outcome of the first round of Medical Training Application Service interviews in Northern Ireland to be known. (134955)

The last date of speciality interviews is 31 May. All job offers for speciality training programmes and fixed term speciality training appointments will be made by 7 June 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he will take to provide assistance to junior doctors in Northern Ireland who are not successful in the round 1 Medical Training Application Service interviews. (134956)

Career advice and support will be offered to all candidates not successful in round 1.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether doctors in Northern Ireland who have completed a 12-month fixed term specialty training appointment at year 1 may apply for a specialist training year 1 post in the same specialty in August 2008; (134958)

Doctors who are appointed to fixed term training appointments from August 2007 will be able to apply for speciality training programmes where vacancies occur and in keeping with the 2008 person specification.

Opportunities to progress will be determined by posts becoming available either through vacancies or a reconfiguration of training opportunities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the proportion of junior doctors’ time which has been used for (a) activities related to modernising medical careers and (b) providing a service for patients in the last 12 months. (134960)

A series of workshops were organised to advise experienced SHOs and foundation trainees about MMC and the new recruitment process. These were run outside normal working hours to ensure least disruption to the service. Year 2 foundation trainees are required to attend a 10 day regional generic skills programme, which is deducted from their study leave entitlement.

Trainees are entitled to study leave and annual leave in accordance with the terms and conditions of service and consistent with maintaining essential services. On-site training of doctors and the provision of a service to patients are inextricably linked therefore it is not possible to extract this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what criteria other than interview performance are used in Northern Ireland to select doctors for run through training to become consultants; (134963)

For selection to the run through training programme, candidates complete a 30 minute interview, in addition to providing copies of references, a training portfolio and evidence of acquired clinical and academic skills. Panel members will have access to all relevant documentation including the candidate’s application form.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps were taken to ensure that applicants in Northern Ireland would not be aware of clinical scenarios raised in the first round of Medical Training Application Service interviews prior to their interview in March. (134977)

All interview questions and clinical scenarios were kept secure and confidential by panel members and the small number of deanery staff involved in the interview process.