HC Deb 19 June 1984 vol 62 cc139-40W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take in cases where manpower targets are not achieved by health authorities.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I am not at the moment aware of any health authorities which are failing to achieve their manpower targets. The regional health authorities appear to be achieving figures below those set as their manpower targets for the totality of staff, without any adverse effects on patient services. As I told the House on 8 March, at columns 1039–40, we will, of course, not penalise them for that and we will use the target figures for 31 March 1984 as the basis for next year.