To ask the Scottish Executive what is the number and the percentage of the total number of (a) hospital consultants, (b) junior doctors working in hospitals and (c) GPs, who have resigned due to stress related illness in each health board area in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 to date.

The NHS in Scotland does not collect data on the specific reasons for the retirement of doctors on the grounds of ill heath. Such information is considered a matter of confidentiality between the retiring doctor and his/her GP.