§ Mr. John Huntasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now in a position to make a statement about the reduction in management costs to be achieved by health authorities by 31 March 1985.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke:The provisional objectives announced last December have now been revised to take account of the changes in the structure of the NHS from 1 April 1982. Allowing for these, we estimate that in 1979–80 5.12 per cent. of health authorities resources was spent on management. The new national objective is therefore that by 31 March 1985 no more than 4.61 per cent. of resources should be spent on management. The following table shows the reductions that authorities in each region are required to make.
65W
Region Total management costs in 1979–1980 (£ million) Total resources in 1979–80 (£ million) Management Production 1979–80 Percentage reduction in (3)* (1) (2) (3) (4) South West Thames 21.874 406.830 5.38 14.31 Wessex 16.059 325.782 4.93 6.49 Oxford 13.525 263.975 5.12 9.96 South Western 20.069 394.491 5.09 9.43 West Midlands 31.805 625.909 5.08 9.25 Mersey 16.275 339.571 4.79 3.76 North Western 26.991 556.407 4.85 4.95 England 314.888 6,151.464 5.12 10.00 * To achieve new objective (4.61 per cent.) by end of 1984–85.