HC Deb 11 February 1994 vol 237 cc539-40W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many whole-time equivalent staff were employed by the Prescription Pricing Authority in each year since 1990; and what were the locations of their employment;

(2) whether any part of the activities of the Prescription Pricing Authority is to be subjected to market testing in 1994–95;

(3) what plans she has to change the structure, organisation or functions of the Prescription Pricing Authority.

Dr. Mawhinney

The numbers of whole-time equivalent staff employed by the Prescription Pricing Authority at each location are:

1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94
Newcastle upon Tyne 738.7 742.0 747.8 11071.1
Durham 177.1 170.1 165.5 161.8
Wakefield 163.4 160.4 168.6 165.1
Preston 90.9 89.3 90.8 88.0
Liverpool 11.91 123.7 126.8 127.9
Sheffield 126.0 126.0 128.2 128.5
Manchester 122.2 125.3 130.5 128.2
West Bromwich 123.3 160.5 130.5 132.9
Bolton 164.6 164.7 188.7 195.2
TOTAL 1,825.3 1,862.0 1,877.4 12,198.7
1Includes 314.5 seconded Department of Social Security whole-time equivalent staff formerly employed in the health benefits unit—which became part of the Prescription Pricing Authority on 1 April 1993.

There are no plans to change the functions of the Prescription Pricing Authority. Any changes to the structure or organisation of the authority will depend upon the results of its market-testing programme.

Initially five areas of activity have been identified for market testing: prescription processing; management and maintenance of the authority's estate; mainframe computer support; security, portering, catering and central administrative services; and information division processing support. A rolling programme of market testing is well under way, with contracts for prescription processing due to be let by April 1995. Contracts for other services will follow, with the current programme completed by March 1996. Testing of remaining areas of the authority's work will then be considered.