asked the Minister of Health how many additional therapeutic dieticians have been recruited to the hospital service this year, and how many vacancies still exist.

Recruitment figures are collected at the end of the year and are not yet available for 1960.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary realise that the recent circular about therapeutic dieticians merely pasted over the cracks and that what is really needed is an increase in salaries for these officers and recruitment within the service? Will she consult her right hon. Friend the Minister of Education so as to have recruitment over a longer period to make up the deficiency?

Part of the problem here arises because there are so many opportunities available to intelligent girls with a scientific bent; in fact, salary increases were granted last October, and quite generous ones, ranging from 10 to nearly 20 per cent. The circular to which the hon. Member refers made recommendations about the better use of trained dieticians, as well as of new recruits for the service.

Can the hon. Lady tell the House what is the starting salary of a therapeutic dietician?

The starting salary is £550 a year for the new recruit.

No wonder the hon. Lady cannot get them.