§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed by trusts in each region in each year since 1991–92; and what are these figures as a percentage of the total number of NHS provider staff.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe number of staff employed by trusts in each region is shown in the table. The total number of national health service provider staff cannot be separated from aggregated figures including all staff in regional and district health authorities. The growth in numbers of trust staff between 1991 and 1992 reflects the 57 trusts created on 1 April 1991 and a further 99 which came into being on 1 April 1992—replacing units formerly directly-managed by health authorities. Figures for September 1993 will not be available until later this year.
NHS staff numbers in trusts by region in England as at 30 September 1991 1991 1992 Northern 4,090 12,910 Yorkshire 11,060 23,500 Trent 5,790 20,570 East Anglia 1,600 5,220 North West Thames 5,380 23,410 North East Thames 11,850 16,930 South East Thames 5,860 18,750 South West Thames 7,600 13,910 Wessex 2,760 13,360 Oxford 550 5,980 South Western 19,740 35,480 West Midlands 3,660 11,020 Mersey 15,570 25,310 North Western 5,460 16,590 Total 100,970 242,950 Source:
DoH non-Medical Workforce Census, Medical Workforce Census and form KM 49.
Note:
All figures are rounded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalents.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what inquiries her Department has made into the use of the financial assets of NHS trusts(a) generally and (b) with particular reference to currency speculation.
§ Mr. SackvilleNone. Trusts account for the use they have made of their assets in their annual accounts which are subject to external audit.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how NHS trusts' annual accounts are publicised; and to whom they are distributed.
§ Mr. SackvilleNational health service trusts must present their audited accounts at a public meeting. For accounts covering the financial year 1993–94 onward it is a mandatory requirement that this meeting, and the availability of copies of the accounts, must be advertised in the media local to the NHS trust no less than 14 days prior to the date of the meeting. Previously this was regarded as good practice and the procedure was followed by most trusts.
NHS trusts are required to distribute a copy of the audited accounts to any member of the public who requests one. A reasonable fee to cover copying costs may be charged. It is a matter for trusts themselves who they distribute copies of the accounts to without such a request having been received.
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§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice she has given to board numbers of NHS trusts regarding use of NHS resources for purposes other than for health care provision.
§ Mr. SackvilleNo specific advice has been given to trust board members regarding the use of national health service resources for purposes other than healthcare provision. Trusts are expected to use resources effectively, efficiently and economically whatever authorised purpose they are applied to. Advice on the use of resources generally is contained in the trust finance and capital charges manuals which are issued to trusts and are available to board members. Copies of these manuals are available in the Library.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what statutory provisions govern the use by NHS trusts of resources for purposes other than those related to health care provision; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleParagraph 15 of part II of schedule 2 to the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 specifies that trusts shall have the powers specified in section 7(2) of the Health and Medicines Act 1988. These powers enable trusts to engage in activities, some of which may not be directly healthcare related, for the purpose of generating additional income to enable them better to perform their healthcare functions.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what statutory provisions specifically prevent NHS trusts using financial assets for current speculation.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe statutory provisions relating to the use of financial assets by national health service trusts are contained in schedule 3 to the National Health Service and Commuity Care Act 1990. Paragraph 1(3) of the schedule prohibits trusts from borrowing in any currency other than sterling except with the consent of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the approval of my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. No such consent has been given. Paragraph 7 of the schedule limits the manner in which trusts can invest any money held to securities of the Government of the United Kingdom or such other manner as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may, with the consent of the Treasury, approve. Approval has been given for investment in certain United Kingdom public sector institutions, banks which are authorised under part 1 of the Banking Act 1987, and building societies authorised under the Building Societies Act 1986.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which legislative provision limits the uses to which the financial assets of NHS trusts may be put.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe principal legislative provision relating to the financial assets of trusts is in schedule 3 to the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990: paragraphs 1 and 2 of the schedule govern trust borrowing, including the provision that a trust may not use its assets as security for loans, and paragraph 7 governs investment.
Paragraph 6(2)d of schedule 2 to the Act provides for the Secretary of State to make directions restricting or prohibiting the disposal of an asset worth in excess of a value specified in trust establishment orders. All trusts have £1 million as the specified amount in their establishment order.
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