§ Mr. Moyleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what annual percentage rate he expects the numbers of health visitors employed by health authorities to increase for this financial year and the next three succeeding financial years.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinI have made it clear that I intend to encourage health authorities to continue to increase the numbers of health visitors they employ. It would not, however, be in keeping with this Government's policy to lay down such precise instructions as the question implies. The ratio of health visitors to population varies considerably in different parts of the country and the precise rate of increase must be left for individual health authorities to decide in the light of their own local circumstances.
§ Mr. Moyleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health visitors were employed in the National Health Service on 31 March 1979; and how many were employed on the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinFigures are not available as at 31 March. The number—whole-time equivalents—of health visitors employed in the NHS in England was 8,635 on 30 September 1978 and 8,980 on 30 September 1979.