§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current level of remuneration for(a) chairmen and (b) non-executive directors of (i) NHS health trusts, (ii) health authorities and (c) NHS Executive regional committees; what plans he has to review the level of remuneration; and if he will make a statement. [22114]
§ Mr. MilburnNon-executive directors on National Heath Service trusts and health authorities receive a payment of £5,000 per annum. Chairman of trusts receive rates of payment according to the annual level of turnover of the trust involved. The current rates payable are as follows:
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Turnover (£) Rate payable (£) Band 1 69,066,000 to 276,338,000 19,245 Band 2 28,792,000 to 68,781,000 17,145 Band 3 2,342,000 to 28,670,000 15,125 Chairmen of health authorities receive rates of payment according to the annual level of cash allocation of the health authority involved. The current rates payable are as follows:
Cash allocation (£) Rate payable (£) Band 1 285,391,000 to 516,266,000 19,245 Band 2 165,198,000 to 285,027,000 17,145 Band 3 69,700,000 to 163,775,000 15,125 National Health Service Regional Chairmen receive an annual payment of £20,925.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no immediate plans to review the levels of remuneration for either non-executives or chairmen.
Number and net ingredient cost of prescription items dispensed for anti-depressant drugs and selective serotonin re-uptake, inhibitors (SSRIs), 1993–96 England 1993 1994 1995 1996 Prescription items (millions) SSRIs 1.9 17 per cent. 2.7 23 per cent. 3.8 29 per cent. 5.1 34 per cent. Other anti-depressants 8.9 83 per cent. 9.1 77 per cent. 9.4 71 per cent. 9.8 66 per cent. Total for anti-depressant drugs 10.8 100 per cent. 11.8 100 per cent. 13.2 100 per cent. 15.0 100 per cent. Net ingredient cost (£ millions) SSRIs 59.5 60 per cent. 76.7 65 per cent. 103.6 71 per cent. 142.3 74 per cent. Other anti-depressants 39.3 40 per cent. 40.6 35 per cent. 43.3 29 per cent. 49.0 26 per cent. Total for anti-depressant drugs 98.8 100 per cent. 117.2 100 per cent. 146.8 100 per cent. 191.2 100 per cent. 1 Anti-depressant drugs are those described in the British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.3, "Anti-depressant drugs". The therapeutic classifications are based on BNF, Number 30 (September 1995). 2 The data cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered. 3 The net ingredient cost refers to the cost of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees.