§ Mr. Fatchettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) why general information on the overall cost of early retirement to the Yorkshire regional health authority is not available;
(2) what statistical information is available centrally as to the overall costs of early retirement in regional health authorities;
(3) by what criteria he evaluates the effect of the early retirement scheme for officers of the Yorkshire regional health authority; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeInformation is available nationally on the compensation costs of premature566W retirements arising out of the main 1982 restructuring. This has been attributed to regions and districts on the basis of the average cost per case. It would be disproportionately expensive to calculate the actual costs for each region and district.
So far as the Yorkshire region is concerned, an amount of £449,000 was attributed within its cash limit for 1983–84 in respect of these costs. A provisional attribution of £392,000 has been made within the region's cash limit for 1984–85.
Any evaluation of the effects in Yorkshire is for the Yorkshire regional health authority. This national scheme makes it easier for health authorities to carry out worthwhile organisational change and to ease out unsuitable personnel in the interests of the efficiency of the service. However, we have recently instituted improved arrangements to control and monitor the future use of the scheme.