§ Ms GordonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of how many of the London hospital audiology departments have a sufficient staff ratio 317W to meet the needs of the served population and of the adequacy of funding available to the London hospital audiology departments to meet the needs of the served population; how much it is costing London hospital audiology departments to use agency staff rather than permanent staff; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 15 February at column666. Local health authorities are responsible for purchasing audiology services to meet the needs of their populations. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairmen of the London health authorities for details on the level of service that they purchase and to the chairmen of trusts about the costs of agency staff.