§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the the Prime Minister whether the responsibilities of Mr. Paige, chairman of the Health Service management board, are limited to the National Health Service in England; and what provision has been made for the implementation of the Griffiths Report in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
§ Mr. FowlerI have been asked to reply.
Mr. Paige's responsibilities, like my own with regard to the National Health Service, are indeed limited to England.
The implementation of the Griffiths report in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for those countries. I understand, however, that the position is as follows.
In Northern Ireland it is not proposed to appoint a general manager of the health and personal social services and the permanent secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services will continue to fulfill his current responsibilities for the management of the services as accounting officer. A review of the top structure of the Department is underway with the objective of establishing a framework which will assist in the exercise of those responsibilities. On 12 December the Department published a circular which requires health and social services boards to appoint, by 1 April 1985, general managers at area level.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland issued a consultative paper in June 1984 on the introduction of the general management function in Scotland. In August, a new under-secretary post was created in the Scottish Home and Health Department with responsibility for National Health Service management, finance and operational planning.
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(a) (i) (ii) All IVB pensioners IVB pensioners receiving NA at Higher rate Middle rate Lower rate £ £ £ £ Average amount of additional component in payment per week 2.63 1.80 2.46 2.88 My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has accepted that the principles of the inquiry team's report apply equally to the National Health Service in Wales, and he has taken action to strengthen the general management function at all levels of the service. Details are set out in Welsh Office circular WHC(84)15, a copy of which is in the Library.