---

NHS Staffing

My hon. Friend makes an excellent point—[Interruption.] The Minister is smiling, but she would be wise not to. The problem is that the Government have put huge resources into the NHS—more than three times as much in 10 years. However, what is happening to that money? The Health Committee stated:"““There has been a disastrous failure of workforce planning.””" It went on to say that there is"““constant re-organisation including the establishment and abolition of Workforce Development Confederations within 3 years. The planning system remains poorly integrated and there is an appalling lack of coordination between workforce and financial planning. The health service, including the Department of Health, Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs), acute trusts and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), has not made workforce planning a priority.””" In other words, the Government have not made NHS staff—70 per cent. of what the money is spent on—a priority.