§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the actual, for 1983–84, and estimated, for 1987–88, numbers of staff employed in the National Health Service in the following categories (a) medical and dental staff, (b) nursing staff, and (c) all other staff.
§ Mr. John PattenInformation is not available in precisely the form required. Comprehensive manpower data are collected at 30 September each year. In addition, since December 1982, there as been a quarterly count made of non-medical manpower in the NHS. At 30 June 1983, the latest date for which data are available, there were 397,200 nursing and midwifery staff, and 391,500 other staff employed in the NHS in England. At 30 September 1982 there were 39,400 medical and dental staff. All figures are expressed as whole-time equivalents.
Manpower targets for total staff numbers in each Region at March 1984 have been settled but have not been divided into staff groups. The distribution of the target across health authorities and staff groups is a matter for local decision, depending on local circumstances and priorities. No data are available for subsequent years.