§ Rear-Admiral Morgan-Gilesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost to public funds during 1977 of removal allowances paid to administrative and secretarial staff of the National Health Service; and what restrictions are in force concerning the number of occasions upon which removal removal expenses can be paid when staff switch from one post to another at their own request.
§ Mr. DeakinsIn 1976–77, expenditure on removal expenses for all National Health Service staff in England, including excess rent allowances but excluding advances of salary for house purchase, totalled £3.8 million.
Such expenses are payable to whole-time NHS staff who are required by their health authority to change their posts; they may also be paid to certain grades of senior NHS staff who move from one authority to another on promotion. All payments are conditional on the health authority being satisfied that removal is necessary and the arrangements proposed are reasonable. Where the officer moves from one authority to another, both authorities must agree that the move is in the interest of the service.