§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the budget for hospital and community health services of(a) health authorities and (b) primary 260W care groups and primary care trusts was spent on administrative costs in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [126916]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 21 June 2000]In 1998–99 £420 million was spent on the cost of managing health authorities, 1.15 per cent. of the £36,612 million total National Health Service expenditure (net).
Primary care groups were not established until April 1999; therefore no figures on their management costs are yet available.