Written question asked by Evan Harris (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 28 March 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 April 2003. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Monday, 7 April 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the vacancy rate was for (a) radiographers and (b) biomedical scientists in the NHS in (i) England, (ii) each NHS region and (iii) each NHS trust in each of the last six years. (Tables in Library Dep 03/992). - No figures and inc fact that available information has been placed in Library and ref to The National Health Service vacancy survey.

Answer: Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the vacancy rate was for (a) radiographers and (b) biomedical scientists in the NHS in (i) England, (ii) each NHS region and (iii) each NHS trust in each of the last six years. [106596] Mr. Hutton: The National Health Service vacancy survey, first collected in March 1999, collects information on the number of posts which trusts are actively trying to fill which havebeen vacant for three months or more. Vacancy information in March 1999 was only collected for the overall radiographer group and pathology staff and has only beenseparately collected as diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers and biomedical scientists from March 2000. The available information has been placed in the Library.

Secondary information