It is known from the Education and Manpower survey of 1971 (Brook, 1973) that some psychiatric senior registrars will not, for a variety of reasons, be aiming for a consultant post in general psychiatry in this country. Some will change to another psychiatric specialty or even to a non-psychiatric specialty, some overseas graduates will want to return to their own countries and some home graduates will emigrate. What is not known is the numbers involved. This is of some importance in manpower planning; if, for example, a substantial minority do not go on to consultant posts in general psychiatry, the number of senior registrar posts will have to be increased so that there are sufficient senior trainees to fill consultant vacancies.