§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy on the reduction in the number employed in a typical regional health authority; how many regional health authority staff she expects to be made redundant by 1 April in English regional health authorities; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 18 March.
It is for regional health authorities to determine how to achieve staff reductions and the need for redundancies will depend on their individual plans. I expect RHAs to avoid compulsory redundancies where possible, consistent with the need to reduce staffing levels, and to handle any that are unavoidable sensitively.