§ 29. Mr. Hannanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what date he expects to receive from hospitals their surveys, at present being undertaken, about waiting times in their out-patient departments.
§ Mr. MaclayI have received the reports from the hospital authorities, and they are now being studied in my Department.
§ Mr. HannanIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the growing volume of complaints from out-patients—and indeed, from some doctors—about the frustrating experience in the time lost in waiting at these departments? Will he undertake to publish the results of this survey at an early date?
§ Mr. MaclayAgain I shall have to ask permission to consider whether the full reports can be published and whether they are in a form that makes that possible, but I am well aware of the importance of this problem.