§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the meetings he and his Ministers(a) have had and (b) propose to have with trust and health authority chairmen and chief executives to discuss reducing waiting lists; if people were invited on a regional basis; what is the estimated cost of these meetings including the costs of travel and subsistence of those summoned; and which Ministers (i) attended and (ii) will attend each meeting. [37261]
§ Mr. MilburnMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State invited the chairmen and chief executives of health authorities and trusts in England to meet Ministers to discuss the use of the additional resources obtained for the National Health Service in 1998–99 to reduce waiting lists. These meetings are being held on a region by region basis on 26, 30 and 31 March and on 7 April. The meetings are all being held in one of the buildings occupied by the Department and consequently the major costs are those of travel and subsistence for those attending the meetings. These are being met from the administration budgets of the individual health authorities and trusts. Information is therefore not available centrally on the total cost.