§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff are employed in his Department to work on health matters; and how many staff are responsible to the National Health Service Management Board.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Department employs around 6,900 whole-time equivalent staff on health matters. Of these some 5,000 are professional, technical and audit staff, the majority of whom are employed in running the special hospitals and the Disablement Services Authority (including the staff of the artificial limb and appliance centres).
The remaining staff work in support of Ministers in their parliamentary and departmental duties. These include some 650 who are accountable to the chief executive of the National Health Service Management Board.