§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Health within which statutory format the proposed strategic health authorities will operate from April 2002. [12367]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 5 November 2001]: We plan to bring forward a bill in the current Session to provide the necessary powers to introduce strategic health authorities and to reallocate current health authority functions to primary care trusts. Subject to parliamentary approval strategic health authorities will be introduced as soon as possible after Royal Assent.
The reduction in the number of health authorities from April 2002 will be achieved using existing powers under section 8 of the National Health Service Act 1977.