HC Deb 28 July 2000 vol 354 cc993-5W
Mr. Healey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money will be allocated to the NHS Management Training Scheme(a) in the next year and (b) for each successive year for the spending review period. [132922]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 27 July 2000]: The indicative funding allocations for the Management Training Scheme in the current year and the next two years are as shown.

£000
Year Allocation
2000–01 5,235
2001–02 5,306
2002–03 5,306

The increase in cost between 1999–2000 and 2000–01 reflects the introduction of a new contract for management education and a re-focusing of the Scheme to better address current service modernisation issues.

Mr. Healey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many entrants were recruited on to the NHS Management Training Scheme and within these totals, broken down by(a) the number and percentage of university graduates, (b) the number and percentage who are graduates of Oxford and Cambridge universities and (c) the number and percentage with HND and equivalent qualifications in each of the last 10 years. [132925]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 27 July 2000]: The figures for the last three years are representative of typical National Health Service Management Training Scheme intakes: 2000—59 out of 62 (95 per cent.) are university graduates, and 8 (13 per cent. ) are from Oxbridge. 1999—61 out of 62 (98 per cent.) are university graduates, and 5 (8 per cent.) are from Oxbridge. 1998—53 out of 55 (96 per cent.) are university graduates, and 6 (11 per cent.) are from Oxbridge.

Some 30 per cent. of each annual intake is made up of in-service professionals from nursing and other clinical or health-related backgrounds. These entrants are a mixture of graduates and non-graduates holding a degree-level professional or managerial qualification—in the last three years one in-service applicant had graduated from Oxbridge. In the last round of recruitment, 18 per cent. of the applicants were in-service: 30 per cent. of those awarded places on the Scheme were in-service. There would therefore appear to be some advantage in having service experience, regardless of graduate background. Although applications are accepted from holders of an appropriate HND qualification, no such applicants have been successful in the last three years.

Mr. Healey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the intake has been on the NHS Management Training Scheme was in each of the last 10 years. [132923]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 27 July 2000]: For the years since 1990, the number of trainees taken onto the National Health Service Management Training Scheme are shown in the table:

Intake year Trainees
1990 51
1991 58
1992 71
1993 74
1994 73
1995 60
1996 47
1997 48
1998 55
1999 62
2000 62

Mr. Healey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people took management positions in the NHS following completion of the NHS Management Training Scheme in each of the last three years. [132924]

Mr. Denham

Posts taken by ex-trainees on leaving the Scheme could be considered as training positions in which they further develop their management skills, but most ex-trainees take on real management roles within the National Health Service on leaving the Scheme. Of the 1997 intake who completed the Scheme last year, all bar one hold posts in the NHS. Of the 1995 intake 77 per cent. are still working in the NHS as are 83 per cent. of the 1996 intake. The majority of trainees take on posts reporting to chief executives or executive directors in NHS trusts or health authorities.

Mr. Healey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trainees are involved in the NHS Management Training Scheme; and how they are dispersed by region. [132920]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 27 July 2000]: The information requested is in the table:

Regional allocation of trainees
1998 1999 2000
West Midlands 6 10 8
London 7 9 9
Trent 6 7 7
Eastern 7 6 6
South East 6 9 9
North West 9 9 8
Northern and Yorkshire 7 5 8
South West 7 7 7
Total 55 62 62

Mr. Healey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the overall costs were for the NHS Management Training Scheme in each of the last three years. [132921]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 27 July 2000]: The cost of the Management Training Scheme in the year 1999–2000 was £4,723,000. Central figures are not immediately available, but this figure is indicative of the cost of the Scheme in each of the previous three years.

Mr. Healey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health where graduates of the NHS Management Training Scheme went on completion of the scheme, broken down by region, in each of the last two years. [132930]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 27 July 2000]: A survey of ex-trainees who graduated from the scheme over the 10 year period 1986–96 showed:

  • 67 per cent. employed by National Health Service trusts
  • 22 per cent. employed by health authorities
  • 2 per cent. employed in primary care
  • 9 per cent. other organisations.

The data from more recent ex-trainees reflect this general pattern, with an increase in the proportion of ex-trainees working in primary care as a result of the recent establishment of primary care groups and trusts.

These proportions do not vary noticeably between regions.