§ Mr. Geoffrey Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what estimate he has made of the administrative posts required under his proposals outlined in the Green Paper, The Future Structure of the National Health Service, for the regional health councils, now regional hospital boards, statutory committees, now executive councils, and district committees, now hospital management committees, in addition to those required for the future area health boards; what extra appointments will be necessary to ensure co-ordination between these bodies; how many such appointments have already been made; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what additional staff is required in his Department in order to implement the proposals contained in the Green Paper, The Future Structure of the Health Service; and what estimate he has made of the additional cost.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe suggestions made in the Green Paper would mean that administrative and other staff employed by the existing health authorities, including the local authorities, would be redeployed to serve the new health authorities and in some cases my own Department. It is too early to make any detailed estimates and no extra appointments have been made. In general I expect the administrative unification of the National Health Service to lead to a more efficient use of manpower than is possible at present.