asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of administrative staff employed by the NHS within Fife, Lothians, and Borders, at the most convenient date and at 31st December 1973 or nearest convenient date.

The total number of administrative and clerical staff employed by the Fife, Lothian and Borders Health Boards at 30th June 1975 was 2,200—Fife 447, Lothian 1,633, Borders 120. The comparable figure for 31st December 1973 is not readily available, but at 30th September 1973 there were 2,309 administrative and clerical staff employed by the health authorities which were formerly responsible for the provision of services within these areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the total cost of the health service in Scotland is spent on administration.

About 8 per cent. of the total cost is spent on administration. This figure includes the cost of central administration, the Common Services Agency—except for the ambulance and blood transfusion services—and administration at health board and hospital level.