HC Deb 04 December 1975 vol 901 cc735-6W
Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what developments have taken place regarding the setting up of a national body for community health councils.

Mrs. Castle

Earlier this year I set up a Steering Committee, representative of community health councils throughout the country, with the task of working out, in consultation with councils, proposals for the constitution of a national body for community health councils. The Steering Committee has now informed me that its consultations with councils have shown that the majority is in favour of setting up a national body. The Committee recommends that a meeting of all councils should be called in the autumn of 1976 and the Committee should continue its work with a view to putting to that meeting proposals for a national body. I accept these recommendations.

I would like to take this opportunity of welcoming community health councils'

BRITISH AIRWAYS BOARD
Financial year to Persons employed* Output available tonne kilometres Profit (loss)† Profit (loss) at mid-1975 prices
(thousands) (millions) £m. £m.
31st march 1966 38.2 2,629 9.3 21.5
31st march 1967 39.6 2,825 24.6 54.8
31st march 1968 41.7 3,092 20.7 44.7
31st march 1969 43.1 3,236 25.2 51.7
31st march 1970 46.2 3,795 25.8 50.2
31st march 1971 51.5 4,109 4.0 7.3
31st march 1972 54.7 4,856 (0.3) (0.5)
31st march 1973 55.3 5,779 5.2 8.0
31st march 1974 55.3 6,076 16.6 23.0
31st march 1975 55.8 5,831 (9.4) (10.9)

NOTES:

BOAC and BEA groups have been combined to 31st March 1972.

* These figures do not include the staff of British Airways' subsidiary International Aeradio Ltd which totalled 3,543 at 31st March 1975.

† Profit (Loss) after interest on capital borrowings, taxation, minority interest and extraordinary terms.

‡Adjusted to take account of changes in the purchasing power of £.

recognition of the need for the utmost economy at the present time and of their wish to keep the costs of a national body as low as possible. The King Edward's Hospital Fund has given valuable support to the Steering Committee and in addition has provided community health councils with a regular newsletter and an information service which I know has been much appreciated.

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