To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of NHS staff earn more than £50,000 per annum. (300815)

Of the 940,674 full-time equivalent hospital and community health services staff surveyed in the Information Centre for health and social care's April to June 2009 NHS Staff Earnings Estimates, 93,614 or 10 per cent. are estimated to have national health service earnings of more than £50,000 a year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid in salary and wage costs for NHS employees in the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the proportion paid to such employees who earn more than £50,000 per annum. (300844)

According to the national health service financial returns and foundation trust annual reports the paybill for staff in the hospital and community health services was £39.2 billion in 2008-09. Information on the proportion of this figure paid to staff who earn more than £50,000 per annum is not available.

The annual salaries (excluding employers' tax and national insurance contributions) of the hospital and community health services staff surveyed in the Information Centre for health and social care's April to June 2009 NHS Staff Earnings Estimates are estimated to total £30.8 billion, of which around 25 per cent. was paid to staff who earned more than £50,000 a year.