§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole-time equivalent employees there were in each of the last five years at(a) the Department of Health, (b) the NHS management executive and (c) each regional health authority.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe information is shown in the table.
Department of Health and NHS management executive 1989–93 Whole-time equivalents as at 1 April Department of Health NHS management executive1 1989 8,799 666 1990 5,388 797 1991 4,651 677 1992 4,803 776 1993 4,846 931 1 Figures also included in overall Department of Health numbers. The Department has reduced in size over the last five years largely through functions not core to its business being transferred to the national health service, non-departmental public bodies, or other agencies. Some 3,200 staff in the special hospitals transferred to the Special Hospital Service Authority in 1989.
Fluctuations in the size of the national health service management executive over time are a result of adjustments in responsibilities between the NHSME and the rest of the Department.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 26 March, Official Report, columns 748–50, for information on regional health authority employees.