§ 17. Mr. Grayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons are employed in the administration of the area health boards in Scotland; and how this figure compares with the total number employed at the date of the creation of these bodies.
§ Mr. Harry EwingStaffing statistics are not available for 1st April 1974, the date of reorganisation of the National Health Service; but at 30th September 1974 the number of administrative and clerical staff, including former special grades and ambulance officers, was 10,696 expressed as whole-time equivalents. At 30th September 1975, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of such staff had increased to 12,197. The figures quoted include the staff employed by the Common Services Agency as well as the staff of the 15 health boards.
§ Mr. GrayDoes the Minister accept that an increase of nearly 2,000 in such a period is hardly the sort of increase which is acceptable in the present circumstances? Does he accept that this is a region of bureaucracy which lends itself to empire-building? Will he do his utmost to effect some sort of control so that this increase is not continued?
§ Mr. EwingYes, I agree that the increase is totally unacceptable. Of course, like the other reorganisations in which the hon. Member's party became involved, this has, unfortunately, led to an increase in bureaucracy. We have required the NHS authorities to freeze their staff levels at the figures prevailing at the end of February 1976 because we are not prepared to accept an increase of this order.