HC Deb 22 January 1968 vol 757 cc46-7W
Mr. James Davidson

asked the Minister of Health what were the total numbers of civil servants employed by the Ministry of Health at the beginning of 1946, 1951, 1964 and at the latest available date.

Mr. K. Robinson

Excluding directly administered hospitals and special units, the figures for non-industrial civil servants were 3,840 for January, 1964, and 4,934 for January, 1968.

The increases were needed to deal with the expanding scope of the health and welfare services, and also to increase efficiency and improve quality generally. Comparable figures for 1946 and 1951 are not available. In 1951, the Department's functions were radically changed.