§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list the expenditure on agency services for each year since 1990 for(a) regions, (b) districts and (c) NHS trusts;
(2) if she will list for each year since 1990 the expenditure on external contract staffing and consultancy service for (a) regions, (b) districts and (c) trusts.
§ Mr. Sackville[holding answer 14 December 19931: Since 1991–92 expenditure for agency services is defined as expenditure on external contract staffing and consultancy services which includes non-patient services provided by non-national health service bodies. Information for 1991–92 and 1992–93 is shown in the table. The figures are not comparable with those for earlier years but confirm the effectiveness of the government's policy of encouraging overall value for money in the NHS by using alternative sources to supply a range of services.
870W
Expenditure on external contract staffing and consultancy services £ thousands 1991–92 1992–93 Regional Health Authorities 25,813 26,372 District Health Authorities 34,591 39,788 NHS Trusts 13,184 38,957 Source: Annual financial returns of regional health authorities, district health authorities and National Health Service trusts in England.
Notes:
1. Figures for 1992–93 are provisional.
2. The number of NHS trusts increased from 57 in 1991–92 to 156 in 1992–93.