§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of direct employees of each regional health authority; and what estimate she has made of the effect on staff requirements of the proposed reorganisation of the regional health authorities.
§ Dr. MawhinneyI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) on 4 March at column221 about the numbers of regional health authorities' employees.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in her speech to the National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts (NAHAT) on 23 February that there would be a rigorous review of the manpower and functions of the intermediate tier; with the view that regions should typically employ a maximum of 200 people against the current average of 560.