HC Deb 19 April 2000 vol 348 cc528-9W
11. Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting in Cardiff on 7 April of the Joint Ministerial Committee on reform and modernisation of the health service. [118445]

Mr. Hanson

This was a very important and very useful meeting. It showed there is a commitment from all parts of the UK to share ideas and learn from each other in order to modernise our National Health Service. The meeting also highlighted a new, shared way of working post devolution and discussed the Government's overall UK increase in NHS investment for the next four years, to raise the level to European averages.

23. Ann Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the reform and modernisation of the NHS in Wales. [118458]

Mr. Hanson

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I regularly meet the Assembly First Secretary and the Assembly Health Secretary to discuss the NHS in Wales. Reform and Modernisation has, of course, been on our agenda and the first meeting of the Joint Ministerial Group on the NHS in the UK was held in Cardiff on 7 April. At that meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister, ideas on modernisation were shared between Ministers from all parts of the UK.