NHS: Redundancies

Lord James of Blackheath
asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Warner on 8 January (WA 32-33), what will be the actual cost of the redundancy programme for which they project a further £250 million will be released to front-line services; what is the proposed timetable for this redundancy programme; how many jobs will be lost as a result of this programme; and whether this cost and this revenue benefit are both included in the current projected deficit for the current financial year. [HL1163]

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)
The strategic health authority and primary care trust reorganisation is expected to release £250 million to front-line services. The cost and number of redundancies is being assessed by primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities (SHAs). Their redundancy programme is likely to last until June 2007. Costs and benefits arising from the SHA and PCT reorganisation in the current financial year will be included by organisations in their forecast out-turn for 2006-07.