§ 19. Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure easier movement both ways between staff in the Department of Health and Social Security and staff in the National Health Service.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe Civil Service and the National Health Service undertake different functions and offer staff different careers and for the most part staff are not interchangeable. Nevertheless there has always been some movement between the two services; there is a particular need to provide larger numbers of administrative and finance staff with experience in both the Department and the National Health Service, and, with my right hon. Friend's approval, new schemes for voluntary interchange are being developed. The medical, nursing, and certain other professional staff in the DHSS normally come from the NHS and there are arrangements for secondment of individuals in each direction.