Amended answers to Oral Questions — Question No. 7 to Minister, 6 August

I want to correct an error in data I gave to the House yesterday in an answer to a question. I stated that over 2,300 extra medical personnel have been employed by the district health boards since 2001. I am now advised that a change to the definition of full-time equivalents and the inadvertent inclusion of some 2008-09 planning data affected those figures. I am advised that a fully equivalent set of data does not exist. My answer was correct as I understood it at the time, and I am correcting the inaccuracy in the assumptions at the earliest possibly opportunity under the Standing Orders.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Might it not also be appropriate for the Minister to withdraw and apologise for the comments he made about the Opposition spokesperson on health at the time the question was asked. He relied on the statistics he had, which are now proved to be incorrect, to give some validity to his insult.

I certainly apologise to the House for the inaccurate data. That was unknown to me, but none the less the data were presented. I further apologise if any inference was taken by the member. I am, however, advised that the general conclusion I gave to the House yesterday that the growth in medical personnel was greater than the growth in support personnel remains true, notwithstanding the definitional adjustment in the 2006-07 year.

I seek leave to table a written answer from the Minister of Health in February this year, confirming there had been a change in the way—

💬 Madam SPEAKER: Leave is sought. Is there any objection? Yes, there is objection.