§ 35. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Health what was the average waiting time for hospital beds in England and Wales, respectively, during 1951: what is the present average waiting time in England and Wales, respectively; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithInformation about waiting times is not centrally available and variations between different specialties would in any event make an overall average very difficult to interpret. I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers on the waiting lists at the end of 1951 and 1957. The fall in waiting lists over 27 recent years, which has been proportionately greater in Wales than in England, has already been the subject of comment in my Department's annual reports and elsewhere and I have no new statement to make.
§ Sir G. NicholsonWould not this information be rendered more valuable if broken dawn into regions?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithIt might be so, but not in answer to this Question, which refers to England and Wales, respectively. The overall position is a very gratifying one, because the number on the waiting list in England dropped by nearly 11½ per cent. in this period and in Wales it dropped by no less than just on 26½ per cent.
§ Mr. GowerDoes not this indicate how the National Health Service, like so many other things, has benefited very much under this Government?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithYes, Sir, I think it does.
§ Following are the figures:
| — | England | Wales | England and Wales | |
| 1951 | … | 463,393 | 40,191 | 503,584 |
| 1957 | … | 410,775 | 29,584 | 440,359 |