§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospices there are in each of the counties of Scotland; and what is his policy regarding the expansion of hospice provision.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe numbers of hospices within each regional and islands council area are as follows:
Area Number Borders 1 (Independent) Central 1 (Independent) Dumfries and Galloway 1 (NHS) Fife Nil Grampian 1 (NHS) Highland 1 (Independent) Lothian 3 (Independent) Orkney Nil Shetland Nil Strathclyde 8 (Independent) Tayside 2 (NHS) Western Isles Nil 18 With effect from 1 April 1990, the 12 independent hospices in Scotland that require no contribution from patients have received Government funding of at least 50 per cent. of their running costs. This initiative is designed to ensure that the partnership which exists between the NHS and the hospice movement is fostered and the hospices enabled to grow and develop.