§ Mr. Harry Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were on hospital waiting lists at 31 December 1980; and how this compares with the numbers on the same date in each of the previous five years.
§ Mr. FairgrieveMy Department collects national waiting list data biannually at 31 March and 30 September. The provisional figure for 30 September 1980 and the actual figures at the same date on each of the previous five years are set out below:
30 September 1980 *67,394 30 September 1979 70,970 30 September 1977 62,239 30 September 1976 53,381 30 September 1975 54,499 * Provisional.