§ Mr. Orbachasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement comparing the administration costs at the regional and area level of the NHS in 1972, and since the reorganisation.
§ Dr. OwenDirect comparison of administration costs of the NHS in England before and after reorganisation is not possible because of changes in the administrative structure, in the range of services for which authorities are responsible—which now include the functions of the former local health authorities and the administrative costs of the former executive councils—and in the definition of administration costs for accounting purposes. The administration costs of hospital management committees and boards of governors returned in the accounts for 1972–73 were £28.78 million 283W and the costs of regional hospital boards £14.30 million. Those of area health authorities in 1974–75, the latest year for which figures are available, were £48.07 million and the costs of regional health authorities in that year were £24.49 million.