§ Mr. O'Neillasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde (Mrs. McCurley) on 10 November, Official Report, c. 233, what arrangements were made by health boards to consider his proposals for abolishing the district level of management before their chairmen gave their concurrence on 8 November.
§ Mr. John MacKayProposals for the abolition of districts by health boards were contained in the consultative document, "The Structure and Management of the NHS in Scotland" issued in December 1979. My right hon. Friend subsequently made a statement to the House on 28 July 1980—[Vol. 989 c. 1043]—reporting on the outcome of these consultations, in which he noted that three boards had decided to abolish districts, that seven had indicated their preference to retain them and that he intended to pursue the matter with the latter boards. On 12 March 1981—[Vol. 1000, c.394–95]—my right hon. Friend indicated in a written answer his concern that wherever possible the district structure should be abolished.
A circular was issued to health boards on 30 March 1981 formally asking them to reconsider their management arrangements. That circular specifically drew attention to my right hon. Friend's wish that boards should abolish their district level of management or reduce the number of their districts.
The arrangements that the health boards made for considering these proposals were a matter for the individual boards to decide.