Mr. Bernard Gloster:

For two simple reasons. The out-turn at the end of last year left us with a very significant surplus of jobs beyond what we could afford and what the economic position was able to allow for the health service allocation. While we were waiting for that, we did two things. First, the service plan development posts for 2024 were allowed to go ahead and are going ahead. They are ring-fenced and protected. Regardless of what controls come in for the rest of the workforce, they will go ahead. Second, we derogated a significant number of essential front-line services to ensure reasonable continuity. That is matched by the use of some agency support.