Doctors: Training

Mr. Dodds
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the evidential basis was for the decision on the relative proportion of speciality training and fixed term speciality training posts in Northern Ireland; and by whom the decision was made.

Paul Goggins
The decision on the proportion of speciality training and fixed terms speciality training posts in NI was based on work force planning projections. The decision was made by my Department in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency.

Mr. Dodds
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost has been of (a) modernising medical careers in Northern Ireland and (b) the Medical Training Application Service in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins
The total cost attributed to Modernising Medical Careers is £1.7 million.

The total spend to date for the introduction of Modernising Medical Careers is £1.565 million. The Northern Ireland contribution to the Medical Training Application Service is £165,000.