Regional Health Authorities (Establishments)

HC Deb 16 January 1984 vol 52 cc128-9W

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the agreed establishment in each of the regional health authorities on 31 March 1983.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

We collect and use data on manpower in the NHS, based on staff in post. Information on agreed establishment is not available centrally.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the real reduction in agreed establishment in each of the regional health authorities to be achieved in the year ending 31 March 1984.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The manpower targets which we settled with each regional health authority were expressed in terms of staff in post at 31 March 1984 compared to the number of staff in post at 31 March 1983. It is for individual employing authorities to determine to what extent, if any, it is necessary to amend their agreed establishments. Their decision will reflect a number of local circumstances, including the vacancy factor they expect. I do not believe it would have been useful to bring establishment figures into our discussions as most establishment figures never equal the number of people actually employed at any one time.