§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now remove the restrictions on medical manpower and nursing staff imposed last July.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe have never imposed any specific restrictions on medical manpower and nursing staff. The manpower targets are global ones and it is for regional health authorities to decide how to distribute the available manpower among districts and staff groups taking account of local needs and priorities. We have made it clear that we expect authorities to look first for any reductions in those groups which are not engaged on direct care of patients, but we wish authorities to examine the cost effectiveness with which all staff groups are deployed.