HC Deb 13 December 1976 vol 922 cc495-6W
Mr. Dan Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the increase in the number of administrative officials of one kind or another employed by the Health Service over the past 10 years.

Mr. Deakins

Hospital administrative and clerical staff—whole-time equivalents—increased from 35,804 in September 1964 to 56,447 in September 1974. Most of these staff were in clerical grades and many of them provided direct support to those involved in delivery of health care.

Mr. Rees-Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the establishment of posts in the three levels of region, area and district compares with the levels of the organisation of the National Health Service prior to 1st April 1974.

Mr. Moyle

I regret that it is not possible to establish a valid numerical comparison between the establishment of posts in the three management tiers of the re-organised health service and that in the tripartite service before reorganisation.

Mr. Rees-Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much manpower in the Health Service has increased each year since 1970.

Mr. Moyle

The total whole-time equivalent manpower in the National Health Service in England at 30th September in each of the years shown below was as follows:

1971
Number 678,698
Increase 26,094
1972
Number 704,792
Increase 9,214
1973
Number 714,006
Increase 12,240
1974
Number 726,246
Increase 46,449
1975
Number 772,695
Increase

The figure for 1975 is provisional: I regret that a comparable figure for 1970 is not readily available.