§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will quantify in specific financial terms for each regional health authority the financial saving in administrative costs and overheads as a result of the abolition of area health authorities.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIn 1982–83 the 14 regions in England spent £425 million or 4.44 per cent. of turnover on management. In 1979–80 the amount spent was 5.12 per cent. of turnover and if that had been maintained as a percentage of the 1982–83 turnover expenditure would have been £489 million. We appear, therefore, to have saved nationally £64 million compared with what could have been spent without changes in policy and a large part of this reduction can be attributed to the restructuring of the National Health Service in April 1982. The following table gives the distribution of possible savings calculated on this basis between the 14 regional health authorities:
Regional Health Authority Estimated Saving (£ million) 1. Northern 4.9 2. Yorkshire 4.7 3. Trent 5.7 4. East Anglia 2.1 5. North West Thames 4.1 6. North East Thames 7.7 7. South East Thames 7.2 8. South West Thames 4.1 9. Wessex 3.9 10. Oxford 2.8 11. South Western 4.4 12. West Midlands 5.3 13. Mersey 2.3 14. North Western 5.2 TOTAL 64.4
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now set out in tabular form for each regional health authority the number of administrative and clerical staff (a) three months prior to the abolition of area health authorities and (b) at the latest convenient date since the new structure became effective.
§ Mr. John PattenThe table following gives the information requested at the closest available dates:
330W
National Health Service Administrative and Clerical Staff (Whole-time Equivalents) Regional Health Authority 30 September 1981 30 June 1983 Northern 6,160 6,150 Yorkshire 7,080 7,100 Trent 8,950 8,980 East Anglia 3,880 4,010 North West Thames 8,800 8,450 North East Thames 9,480 10,070 South East Thames 9,340 9,270 South West Thames 6,720 6,600 Wessex 5,460 5,590 Oxford 4,760 4,670 South Western 6,730 6,800
Regional Health Authority 30 September 1981 30 June 1983 West Midlands 10,830 11,050 Mersey 5,390 5,310 North Western 9,760 9,890 TOTAL RHAs 103,350 103,960 Notes:
1. Excludes ambulance officers and control assistants.
2. Figures are shown independently rounded to the nearest 10.
3. In the 1982 National Health Service reorganisation there were some boundary changes between Regional Health Authorities. In particular the figures for North East Thames and North West Thames are not directly comparable.