§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the percentage change in the number of administrative and clerical staff in the national health service in Wales between September 1979 and the latest available date.
319W
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettIt is not possible to give wholly accurate information on this matter. There is uncertainty about the information base. With this proviso it is calculated that between September 1979 and May 1991 there was a 36.5 per cent. increase in whole time equivalent administration and clerical staff employed by the NHS in Wales. This figure includes a large clinically related element.
Factors leading to growth include:
Introduction of general management and recategorisation of some staff;Strengthening of certain functions (eg finance, IT) associated with White Paper implementation;New initiatives, eg health education, drug abuse, administration support for professional staff;Organisational developments eg Planning Forum, VFM, HIU.