§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the total cost of premature retirement payments in the Northern region of the National Health Service; how many persons were prematurely retired; and what amount each received;
(2) how many persons in the Northern region of the National Health Service, who received premature retirement payments, have subsequently been employed by the National Health Service within the United Kingdom;
(3) how many persons formerly employed in the Wessex region of the National Health Service received premature retirement payments; what was the average amount that was paid; and how many such persons have since been re-employed in the National Health Service in any part of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.