§ Mr. John Huntasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the reduction in management costs to be achieved as a result of restructuring the National Health Service.
§ Dr. VaughanIn HC(80)8 we made it clear that, following the changes to the structure and management arrangements of the Service to be implemented from 1 April 1982, the proportion of NHS resources spent on management nationally at 31 March 1980 should be reduced by 10 per cent. by 31 March 1985. Nearly 5.14 per cent. of NHS resources was spent on management in 1979–80.
Accordingly, the provisional objective is that by the end of 1984–85 each region's management costs should be no greater than 4.62 per cent. of regional resources. The definitive objective will be announced as soon as account can be taken of the incorporation into the district structure of hospitals at present administered by four boards of governors, the establishment of the Hammersmith special health authority, and the small changes proposed to certain regional boundaries. Each region's provisional position is set out in the following table.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI am pleased to tell my hon. Friend that a report on the family finances survey was published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys on 22 December.* A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
451WThis important study is the first nationally representative survey to concentrate on both the expenditure and income of low-income families. It was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Security and undertaken by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys over the period of 12 months from October 1978 to September 1979.
The report explains how 3,200 families with children were selected to take part in the survey. Each family visited was asked detailed questions on income and expenditure.
The survey, in conjunction with its follow-up, the family resources survey, provides a unique opportunity to study the circumstances of low-income families over time.
The results include indications that a family's chances of having very low levels of resources are increased if they have a child under minimum school age; if they live in the North, the South-West, the West Midlands or Wales; if the family is large; or if it is a one-parent family. Poor families have to spend a higher proportion of their income on food and fuel than the average—over 40 per cent. compared with about 30 per cent. A large majority of them have television, a washing machine or a fridge. Over 40 per cent. have a phone or central heating, and over a third access to a car.
*FAMILY FINANCES A methodology report on a survey of low-income families and their financial circumstances with a brief descriptive summary of results. Occasional paper 26. OPCS (£2 net) ISBN [0906197937]. Occasional papers are available from Information Branch (Dept. OP), OPCS, St. Catherine's House, 10 Kingsway, London WC2B 6JP.