HC Deb 03 June 1980 vol 985 cc1221-2
1 Mr. Neil Thorne

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Ravensbourne (Mr. Hunt)Official Report,

The Secretary of State for Social Services (Mr. Patrick Jenkin)

I have asked the London advisory group to give priority to advising on the restructuring of the National Health Service in London, and on the pattern of acute and specialist hospital services in the light of the reports of the London health planning consortium.

Mr. Thorne

Will that not be too late for London university to take into account with the Flowers report, the consideration of which must be completed by July? If that is the case, will my right hon. Friend be prepared to allow Westminster hospital to continue until the advisory group's report is available and can be taken into consideration?

Mr. Jenkin

As my hon. Friend knows, there is a later question on the Order Paper about Westminster hospital. I gain the impression that my hon. Friend may not appreciate the relationship of the London advisory group with the Flowers report, which is concerned with medical schools. The Flowers report is a report to London university. It will be for the university to reach conclusions on the proposals put forward by Lord Flowers. That will be one of the inputs into the London advisory group, which will then advise me on the best way in which to deal with the services in London, in the light of all the facts.

Mr. Orme

The Secretary of State said that the advisory group's report would deal with restructuring. That will involve medical staff, not least nurses, many thousands of whom are employed within the London area. May I take this opportunity to ask the right hon. Gentleman when we will have a report on the recent negotiations with the nurses about their pay, and the recent meeting——

Mr. Speaker

Order. The right hon. Gentleman has stretched the question beyond measure.

Mr. Orme

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I was making the point that the London nurses, of whom there are many thousands, will be affected by any pay structure that is decided——

Mr. Speaker

Order. That may be so, but there should be a question on the Order Paper on that matter. This question does not deal with it.