Mr. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of home chiropody services by health authorities in England and Wales. [102214]
§ Mr. HuttonIt is the responsibility of individual health authorities in England and Wales to assess the broad health care needs of their population, and to secure a range of hospital and community health services such as home chiropody services to meet those needs. Decisions about health care and the use of resources are best taken at local level because it is there that people's needs are best known and services can be tailored accordingly.