§ Mr. OttawayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the financial impact on Croydon Health Authority of(a) the Working Time Directive, (b) the introduction of the minimum wage, and (c) the abolition of dividend tax credit on pension funds announced in the 1997 Budget. [106773]
§ Mr. DenhamThe National Health Service Executive recognises the important of the Working Time Directive. NHS employers, like all other employers in the United Kingdom are required to meet the obligations put on them by the Working Time Regulations. The impact of the Working Time Directive has varied over the NHS trusts which provide services to Croydon Health Authority774W residents. Croydon Health Authority has included a provision for the reasonable costs of the European Union Directive in its financial agreement with trusts.
It is not possible to identify accurately the costs associated with the National Minimum Wage separately for Croydon.
The withdrawal of Advance Corporation Tax credits has no effect on National Health Services expenditure.