§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he anticipates that in reacting to the requirements of cost savings recently announced there is likely to be a general freeze on recruitment to the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe have agreed with regional health authority chairmen that, in making the necessary cash savings following from the revised revenue allocations, the National Health Service as a whole will reduce overall manpower levels by next March by between ¾ per cent. and 1 per cent. We shall set firm targets for each RHA in September. It is up to the individual authorities how they achieve these targets. Freezing recruitment is one of a number of options open to them in doing so.