§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish his Department's estimate of the number of jobs that will be deleted from National Health Service establishments as a result of the latest Ancillary Staffs Council pay offer.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 27 July 1984]: The number of jobs in the National Health Service is determined by the need to deliver more and better quality patient services in the most cost-effective way within the resources available. Pay increases are only one factor in the overall pattern of patient care including the use we make of manpower. We cannot make any sensible estimate of the kind requested.