A Tory Health Secretary refused to intervene when local health chiefs slashed nurse training places more than 10 years ago, it can be revealed.
Former Labour minister John Spellar wrote to then Health Secretary Andrew Lansley - now a Conservative peer - in 2011 hitting out at cuts by West Midlands Strategic Health Authority to the number of spots available.
In his reply, seen by the Mirror, Mr Lansley told the MP: “SHAs are expected to base their planned commissions on local workforce plans and liaise with their providers, including higher education institutions, about these commissioning decisions as part of their contractual discussions.
