HL Deb 21 January 1993 vol 541 cc85-6WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the communication sent from the Kidderminster and District Health Authority and the Bromsgrove and Redditch District Health Authority to the West Midlands Regional Health Authority was "a request to commence the consultation process" (H.L. Deb, WA 24, 14th December 1992), or an application to merge; and if it was the former, whether and when an application to merge has been received.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)

The letter of 5th November 1991 was a request to West Midlands Regional Health Authority to commence the consultation process. The regional health authority did not receive an application to merge as there is no statutory requirement for health authorities to do so.