§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will designate a number to the paper "Contracts for Health Services: Operating Services" within the series of papers on implementing the White Paper, "Working for Patients".
§ Mr. FreemanThe series of numbered working papers, which were published shortly after the White Paper "Working for Patients", were largely concerned with taking forward detailed analysis of the policy proposals in the White Paper. Later guidance, such as "Contracts for Health Services: Operating Contracts", has not been numbered within this series as it is intended to be guidance to NHS managers in the practical implementation of those proposals. It has been distributed within the NHS under cover of an executive letter from the chief executive of the NHS Management Executive (in a numbered series), its reference being EL(90)MB/24.
However, the wider interest in this and other such guidance has been recognised by arranging for Her Majesty's Stationery Office to publish it, and by placing copies in the Library. We have made copies available through the Vote Office.