asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have received from the British Medical Association about the 29 junior doctors who have had their vocational training placements deferred due to cutbacks in funding by the postgraduate medical deanery in London; and what assistance is being given to those junior doctors to ensure that their training can start in August 2006.[HL6586]

The Government have received representations from Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association, on this matter.

The priorities for investment of educational funding are a matter for the local strategic health authority working with their deanery in respect of medical education. This is therefore essentially a local matter for the SHA and the London Deanery to determine. However I am assured by the London Deanery that there has been no reduction in funded training places at the deanery. The deferment of the training places is the result of the number of trainees who could be recruited exceeding the available places on the training scheme. The deanery is confident that places on the scheme will be available for these doctors at the next available start date, in February 2007. In the mean time the deanery will work with the doctors concerned to offer careers advice and support, and to minimise the impact on them.