To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people work for the chief medical officer in Stockport health authority; and what is the average figure for similar-sized health authorities. [8694]

The director of public health in Stockport is supported by a team of three consultants in public health medicine, two trainees on rotation and three and a half—whole-time equivalent—secretarial-support staff. This team has developed an extensive network of links with, for example, NHS trusts, the local authority, other government agencies and voluntary organisations, which contributes to health promotion and activities and public health issues. There are no comparable figures available for other authorities.