asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were employed in the public health service in 1970, 1973, 1974 and at the most recent available date; and what was the total wage and salary bill in each of these years.

The total whole-time equivalent manpower in the National Health Service in England at 30th September in each of years shown below was as follows:

1971	678,698
1973	714,006
1974	726,246
1975	768,495

Figures on a comparable basis for the year 1970 are not readily available. As to finance, figures are only available which cover a full financial year, and they should not be regarded as directly comparable with the manpower figures above. The total remuneration was of the order of:

	£ millions
1971–72	121
1973–74	155
1974–75	214
1975–76	284