§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the Member for Alyn and Deeside of 30 October, when he expects to be in a position to make a statement on staffing requirements under the proposals of the White Paper, "Working for Patients".
§ Mr. GristI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on Monday 30 October at col.34. The manpower implications of the proposals contained in the White Paper "Working for Patients" are being considered as part of the ongoing manpower planning and management process within the NHS in Wales alongside a number of other initiatives. A number of these initiatives naturally interrelate and to some degree overlap for example, it is likely that the White Paper proposals will require a further strengthening of the personnel, finance and information technology functions within the NHS in Wales, in addition to the work that is already being undertaken in these areas as part of the continuing development of the management of the service.
Similarly, the proposals contained in a review of the Combined Training Institute at Cardiff and in an option appraisal of nurse education arrangements in Wales as part of the wider task of implementing Project 2000 are being considered alongside the outcome of the manpower resource planning exercise. The proposals contained in the White Paper overlay such initiatives to some extent and will be taken into account in that context. The annual manpower resource planning exercise will enable the NHS in Wales to take stock of the manpower requirements over the next decade.