Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt is facing a Commons vote of no confidence over her handling of the controversial new system for allocating training posts to junior doctors.The Conservatives have used one of their opposition day debates to table a motion calling for her salary to be cut by £1,000 - the traditional way of signalling no confidence in a minister.
Junior doctors have complained that thousands of careers have been jeopardised by the botched introduction of the new computerised Medical Training Application Service (MTAS).
The Department of Health confirmed that Ms Hewitt - who was on Wednesday addressing the Royal College of Midwives - would be in the House for the debate, which is expected to start at 4pm.
Although Labour's Commons majority should ensure that the motion is defeated, the debate will enable the Tories to again focus on the introduction of MTAS, which has been the subject of fierce criticism.
The debate comes as the High Court is due to rule on a claim by the junior doctors pressure group, Remedy UK, that the system is legally flawed.
The chairman of the British Medical Association James Johnson has already been forced to resign over the debacle after failing to reflect the anger within the medical profession over MTAS.
However Ms Hewitt - while apologising for the system's failing - has steadfastly resisted calls for her to quit.
In the name of God Hewitt, go and go NOW!
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