§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary or State for Social Services why consultants have been employed by the Mersey Regional Health Authority Works Office; and what is the total cost.
§ Mr. MeacherInevitable fluctuations in workload and in the need for particular forms of expertise make it uneconomic for regional health authorities to employ sufficient staff to cope with all tasks falling on regional works organisations. The Mersey Regional Health Authority engages consultants when work is outside the capacity of the regional works organisation. The total cost of fees paid by its consultants in 1974–75 was £888,697.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total cost of furniture for the Mersey Regional Health Authority Works Office board-room.
§ Mr. MeacherThe Works Department of the Mersey Regional Health Authority370W does not have a boardroom but the rooms used for meetings of the Authority and its committees were furnished in April 1975 at a total cost of £5,631.