§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many former Community Health Council staff members have found continuing employment in the health service; how many have officially been declared redundant; and what the cost is to the Exchequer of the redundancy payments to be made to them. [145247]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonFigures taken at the end of October show that 119 community health council (CHC) staff had found alternative employment in the health service. We estimate that 470 staff were made redundant as a result of the closure of CHCs on 179W 1 December 2003 at a total cost of redundancy in the region of £14.5 million. The final figures will be confirmed in January.