Written question asked by Laurence Robertson (Conservative) on Thursday, 11 January 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 January 2001. It was answered by John Denham (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 January 2001 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve the recruitment of (a) trainee and (b) trained scientific staff by the NHS; and if he will make a statement. - Inc figures and ref to http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk.

Answer: Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve the recruitment of (a) trainee and (b) trained scientific staff by the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [145407] Mr. Denham: The National Advisory Group for Scientists and Technicians has been charged with developing plans to improve work force planning, education, training and career development among that group of staff. The Department is also developing a specific strategy for improving recruitment and retention, liaising closely with employers, professional bodies and trade unions to raise the profile of the work of scientists. The National Health Service Careers Service, including the website http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk has been extended to include scientists and technicians. A new generic scientists and technicians careers leaflet has also been prepared. To address particular recruitment and retention problems in pathology laboratories pay increases of between 7.3 per cent. and 16.7 per cent. have been offered from April 2001 to over 6,000 trainee Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers (MLSOs), MLSO1s and MLSO2s. Other scientific and technical staff have been offered a 3.7 per cent. increase.

Secondary information