Health Visitors

Mr. Dunnachie
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that no newly qualified health visitor in Scotland is unable to find a job; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Forsyth
The responsibility for reviewing manpower requirements lies with health boards and it is for each health board to determine the number of students to be trained in accordance with identified manpower needs. While most newly qualified health visitors should find employment on completion of their training, it is impossible to guarantee the employment of all such health visitors and students are made aware of this when they enrol.

Mr. Dunnachie
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many vacancies for health visitors currently exist in each health board area in Scotland.

Mr. Michael Forsyth
This information is not held centrally.