§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the factors that have contributed to the reduction in management costs in the National Health Service since the abolition of area health authorities.
§ Mr. John PattenThe information needed to answer the question in detail is not routinely provided. A large part of the reduction in management costs in the National Health Service can undoubtedly be attributed to the restructuring of the NHS in April 1982, which directly reduced the number of management teams from 251 to 193, and gave health authorities greater freedom to streamline their management structures.