§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many area health authorities have refused to appoint defence planning officers or have deferred such appointments or have failed to reach agreement with an appropriate trade union regarding such appointments.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergRegional health authorities are responsible for the appointment of home defence planning officers. One RHA has so far refused to approve the creation of a planning post and another has deferred the decision to appoint, pending further discussion. The remaining 12 authorities have either made or are in the process of making appointments. Three RHAs have failed to reach agreement with the appropriate trade union, but this has not resulted in any failure to fill the posts.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total expenditure per annum allocated for the employment of defence planning officers; and how much money has been spent up to the most recent available date in 1981.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergRegional health authorities have been allocated on a recurring basis £400,000 at November 1979 pay and price levels in 1981–82 for the employment of defence planning officers, or £520,000 at 1981–82 cash limit pay and prices. Expenditure figures for 1981–82 are not yet available.