§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of all letters and circulars sent to regional health authorities about the streamlining of regional health authorities' operations and services and of the preliminary replies from regional health authorities due in by 5 May.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 26 June 1989]: The chief executive of the National Health Service wrote to regional general managers on 22 March about the delegation of regional health authority functions in line with the Government's proposals set out in chapter 2 of "Working for Patients". Copies of his letter (EL(89)MB/59) have been placed in the Library. The preliminary replies from 548W regional health authorities are statements of general intention which are subject to further discussion within authorities, with their staff-side interest, and within the Department. It would not be appropriate to publish these, or correspondence relating to them at this stage. However, authorities' final proposals, due on 30 September 1989, will be public documents.