§ Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report the total number of administrative staff, including secretarial, clerical and other specialised grades within the administrative and clerical group, engaged in the health services in England in the years 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974, respectively.
§ Dr. OwenThe total number—wholetime equivalent—of administrative staff within the purview of the National Health Service Administrative and Clerical Staffs Whitley Council is as follows:
1970 58,262 1971 61,651 1972 65,491 1973 69,417 These figures exclude staff of the former local health authorities and ambulance officers, who, prior to 1st April 1974, were not included in the National Health Service administrative and clerical group.
I regret that figures for 1974 are not yet available.
§ Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of administrative staff employed or retained in the health and personal social services in England on 30th September 1974; and what was the breakdown of clerical, secretarial and specialised grades within the administrative and clerical group including medical, nursing and other professional staff employed on administrative duties.
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§ Dr. OwenI regret that information on staff numbers as at 30th September 1974 is not yet available.
The breakdown of the administrative and clerical group as at 30th September 1973—the latest date for which figures are available—was as follows:
Whole time equivelent Former Regional Hospital Boards, Executive Councils, and other NHS bodies: Administrative 11,339 Clerical, Secretarial and Other (see note) 49,016 Specialised grades 3,523 Typists, machine operators, etc. 5,539 Total under the purview of the NHS Administrative and Clerical Staffs Council at 30th September 1973 69,417 Former Local Health Authorities 7,221 Ambulance Service 2,928 Total National Health Service (on present basis) 79,566 NOTE: The breakdown between clerical, secretarial, and other is not available for all employing bodies; it is estimated that some 35,000 staff were employed mainly on clerical and other office work, and about 11,000 on secretarial duties.
Medical, nursing, and other profesional staff employed on administrative duties are not included in the administrative and clerical group. Many such staff are engaged on a mixture of professional and administrative duties, and I do not think a meaningful distinction can be made in all cases.
Personal Social Services: Administrative 6,700 Clerical 7,900 Other 2,600 17,200 These figures relate to staff at headquarters and area offices of local authority social service departments.