§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the change in numbers and cost of hospital general and senior managers between 1986 and 1991;
(2) how much was spent on hospital general managers and senior managers in England in the lass year for which figures are available and the previous year.
§ Dr. MawhinneyGeneral and senior management posts were introduced in phases from 1986 before which the national health service was clearly undermanaged. In the hospital and community health services in 1986 and 1991 there were respectively 510 and 12,420 whole-time equivalent staff paid on general and senior managers' terms. HCHS salary costs for this group of staff were £25.7 million in 1986–87, £383.8 million in 1991–92 and £494.1 million (provisional) in 1992–93. Comparisons over the years are meaningless because the growth in numbers and costs is mainly due to the reclassification of staff604W previously included in other administrative and professional categories, including many senior nurses. General and senior managers account for only 2 per cent. of the total NHS work force and 3 per cent. of total NHS expenditure on salaries and wages, but the proposals set out by my right hon. Friend on 21 October 1993 contained a commitment to streamline the structure of the NHS, to slim down its management and to make it simpler and sharper.