§ 15. Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish his final proposals for the structure of the ambulance services in the context of reorganisation of the Health Service.
§ Sir George YoungWe must await the recommendations of the Health Service working party on patient transport services, which, I understand, hopes to report early next summer.
§ Mr. MoateIs my hon. Friend aware of the rumours that the Government favour dividing the service between the emergency service and the social transport service? Will he confirm that the Government are open-minded about the matter? Will he, then, do the obviously right thing and keep a unified service, based essentially and generally on the new districts?
§ Sir George YoungThe rumours mentioned by my hon. Friend are unfounded. The Government are awaiting the report to which I referred. I recall my hon. Friend's spirited speech on the subject on 27 October. At this stage, we are not ruling out any solution to the problem.