§ Mr. Les Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what administrative posts and positions of the Warwickshire Area Health Authority are duplicated at regional level; and what is the cost of this duplication.
§ Dr. OwenI am advised by the regional health authority that there is no duplication. My right hon. Friend and I have constantly stressed to health authorities the need to reduce any duplication or unnecessary overlap of duties, some of which have arisen as a direct consequence of the pattern of the recent reorganisation with its increase in administrative costs.
If my hon. Friend has any evidence of duplication I shall be happy to see that it is carefully investigated.
§ Mr. Les Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the administration cost of the West Midlands Regional Health Authority as a percentage of its total budget for the latest available period; and how this compares with each of the years 1970 to 1974.
§ Dr. OwenThe following table compares revenue expenditure on central administration by the former Birmingham Regional Hospital Board from 1970–71 to 1973–74 and the West Midlands Regional Health Authority for 1974–75 with the total revenue allocation to the region. The figures for 1974–75 are not strictly comparable with the earlier figures because the regional health authority has wider 269W responsibilities than the former regional hospital board.
Year Total Revenue Allocation to Region Revenue Expenditure by Regional Board/ Authority on Central Col. (3) expressed as percentage of Col. (2) (1) (2) (3) (4) £ million (rounded) £ million (rounded) Per cent. 1970–71 84.2 1.0 1.2 1971–72 97.2 1.2 1.2 1972–73 110.6 1.6 1.4 1973–74 126.1 1.9 1.5 1974–75 225.0 2.7 1.2