§ Sir Anthony Royleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the rules within the Kingston and Richmond Area Health Authority regarding the use of public funds and trustee funds for entertainment; and how much was spent during the last financial year.
§ Mr. MoyleThe usual strict financial controls and procedures covering prior authorisation and ratification are followed. Expenditure from trust funds is996W authorised directly by the authority. During 1975–76 a total of £3,654 was spent covering both patients and staff.
§ Sir Anthony Royleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost in the Kingston and Richmond Area Health Authority over the last 12 months of official cars, of mileage cost reimbursed to officers using their own cars and of travel by public transport.
§ Mr. MoyleIt is not possible to identify the cost of cars alone but I understand the total cost of the authority's transport in 1975–76 was £135,095. This covered a transport fleet of 65 vehicles, including 43 passenger vehicles, of which 36 were used exclusively by district nurses, health visitors and midwives. In 1975–76, £98,089 was reimbursed to officers using public transport or their own cars.
§ Sir Anthony Royleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many area professional officers are employed in the Kingston and Richmond Area Health Authority; how many official cars are held at area headquarters; who is allowed to use them; what is the practice regarding the use of these cars for journeys which can be undertaken by public transport; and how many officers are permitted to use official cars regularly for office to home travel.
§ Mr. MoyleI understand that of 319 staff based at area headquarters 20 could be classed as professional officers. There are no official cars held in the area headquarters. Apart from officers, such as district nurses, who generally work from their home addresses, none has approval to use official vehicles regularly for home to office travel.