National Health Service (Hansard, 30 April 1987)

§ Mr. Rogers
asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what were the numbers of medical and dental staff employed in the National Health Service in Wales (a) in the years 1970 to 1975, (b) 1975 to 1980 and (c) in the years 1980 to 1985, expressed as actual numbers, and discounting changes in rota systems;
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(2) what were the numbers of nurses and midwives employed in the National Health Service in Wales (a) in the years 1970 to 1975, (b) in the years 1975 to 1980 and(c) in the years 1980 to 1985, expressed as actual numbers, and discounting changes in rota systems;
(3) what were the numbers of front-line staff employed in the National Health Service in Wales (a) in the years 1970 to 1975, (b) in the years 1975 to 1980 and (c) in the years 1980 to 1985, expressed as actual numbers, and discounting changes in rota systems.

§ Mr. Mark Robinson
The required information which is only available in the form of whole-time equivalents, is given in the following table.

Average whole-time equivalents employed¹

Period (six years inclusive) Medical and Dental Nursing and Midwifery Front-line staff²

1970–75 1,675 ³19,724 23,572

1975–80 2,064 ⁴22,450 ⁴27,878

1980–85 2,364 ⁴25,847 ⁴32,357

¹ Based on whole-time equivalents employed at 30 September each year.

² "Front-line staff" includes medical and dental, nursing and midwifery and professional and technical staff groups.

³ Nursing and midwifery figures for 1970 are not wholly separable from professional and technical staff figures, and therefore the average is based on the five-year period 1971–75 inclusive.

⁴ Figures for 1980 onwards have not been adjusted to allow for the reduction which took place in contract hours for nursing and midwifery staff, from 40 to 37½ hours per week.

§ Mr. Rogers
asked the Secretary of State for Wales who will make the appointment of non-executive members of the Health Policy Board appointed on a nonrepresentational basis referred to in the corporate management programme for the "Health Service in Wales" consultation paper; and who will qualify for appointment.

§ Mr. Mark Robinson
My right hon. Friend appoints non-executive members to the board entirely at his discretion.

Average whole-time equivalents employed¹
Period (six years inclusive)	Medical and Dental	Nursing and Midwifery	Front-line staff²
1970–75	1,675	³19,724	23,572
1975–80	2,064	⁴22,450	⁴27,878
1980–85	2,364	⁴25,847	⁴32,357
¹ Based on whole-time equivalents employed at 30 September each year.
² "Front-line staff" includes medical and dental, nursing and midwifery and professional and technical staff groups.
³ Nursing and midwifery figures for 1970 are not wholly separable from professional and technical staff figures, and therefore the average is based on the five-year period 1971–75 inclusive.
⁴ Figures for 1980 onwards have not been adjusted to allow for the reduction which took place in contract hours for nursing and midwifery staff, from 40 to 37½ hours per week.