§ Barbara FollettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities in England provide in vitro fertilisation; and what measures are being taken to tackle inequality of provision between health authorities. [14391]
§ Ms JowellInformation on health authority funding of in vitro fertilisation is contained in the Report of the Fourth National Survey of National Health Service Funding of Infertility Services, produced by the College of Health on behalf of the National Infertility Awareness Campaign (published November 1996). Copies are available in the Library.
The Government are committed to tackling the issue of unexplained or unjustified variations in the service provided in different parts of the country. The forthcoming White Paper on replacing the National Health Service internal market and the commissioning process will be founded upon a number of key principles, one of which is fairness. The White Paper will propose a revised framework for monitoring performance which will include equity of access in relation to need.