§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the latest figures available for the average cost of a National Health Service worker; and if he will break down the average cost into pay, national insurance, superannuation, and other costs such as office space, heating, lighting, car allowance, travel allowance, telephone and others.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergI have been asked to reply.
According to the accounts submitted by health authorities, the average salaries and wages cost of a National Health Service worker—whole-time equivalent—in England in 1981–82 was £6,980. This includes £630 and £350 for employers' national insurance and superannuation contributions respectively.
65WThe cost of the other items listed cannot be separately identified between patients and staff in those accounts, but the following analysis of total expenditure by health authorities may be helpful:
£ million (a) Salaries and wages of directly employed staff including national insurance and superannuation and staff costs charged to Capital Account (£28 million) 5,707 (b) Fuel, light and power expenditure 262 (c) Travelling, subsistence and removal expenses 112 (d) Telephone expenditure 57 (e) All other current expenditure (including family practitioner services) 3,803 (f) All other capital expenditure 643 £10,584 The total expenditure covers that incurred on hospital and community health services by health authorities, family practitioner services and the expenses of the Dental Estimates Board and Prescription Pricing Authority.