§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will analyse the allocation of space and comfort in the National Health Service in relation to senior administrative staff; if he will indicate the ratio of space available to consultants, nurses, paramedical professionals and technicians; if he will take steps in the case of any imbalance to reallocate the space in terms of medical, nursing and technical need; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe allocation of space in health buildings is a matter for health authorities. The Department already provides them with guidance in the form of health building notes with supporting material which describes the spatial and environmental conditions which are needed in each part of health building to enable the staff to do their jobs properly. The space is related to the work which has to be carried out rather than to categories of staff or to particular individuals. I do not believe that it would be sensible for the Department to go54W further than this by issuing detailed rigid rules on a subject which ought to be resolved locally by common sense appraisals of service needs.