Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether any of the 1,000 new specialty training places announced in the 10 Year Health Plan will be available for recruitment rounds this year; and if so, whether clinical radiology and clinical oncology will receive any of the additional posts.

The Government committed in the 10-Year Health Plan to create 1,000 new specialty training posts over the next three years with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need. Further information on which specialties will receive these places and when will be announced in due course.

Alongside this, the Government will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan later this spring. It will set out a clear roadmap to improve working lives in the National Health Service, through better treatment of staff, higher-quality training, and more fulfilling roles.

In addition, the Department will also use training more directly as a lever to support improvements in operational performance, prioritising training places in trusts, often those in rural or coastal areas, where vacancy rates are higher and performance is lower.