asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest proportions of staff engaged in (a) medical, (b) ancillary and (c) administrative and clerical work in National Health Service hospitals.

In September 1980 medical and dental staff represented about 4·8 per cent. of all directly employed staff in the National Health Service in England—of such some 89 per cent. were employed in hospitals and some 11 per cent. in community health services; ancillary staff represented about 21·7 per cent. and administrative and clerical staff about 13·3 per cent. of all directly employed staff. It is not possible to distinguish separately those employed in hospitals.