§ 39. Mr. Fortescueasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the duties of the district committees envisaged in the Green Paper, "The Future Structure of the National Health Service".
§ 58. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a further statement on the composition and functions of the district committees proposed in the Green Paper on the future structure of the National Health Service.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe Green Paper outlines their composition and duties. These will be worked out in detail in consultation with interested organisations.
§ 40. Mr. Fortescueasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to implement the proposals in the Green Paper, "The Future Structure of the National Health Service".
§ Mr. CrossmanAs I said in the House on 11th February, I hope to publish a White Paper before the end of the summer. The subsequent timetable will depend, among other things, on implementation of the reform of local government in England, to which my own proposals are closely related.—[Vol. 795, c. 1255–61.]
§ 71. Mr. Arthur Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what priority he intends to give to control by elected authorities of the National Health Service; and why the proposals of the Green Paper differ from those of the Maud Report in this respect.
§ Mr. CrossmanI consider proper representation of locally-elected authorities to be an essential part of a reorganised National Health Service and have accordingly suggested in the Green Paper that local authorities should have a third of 211W the places on the new area health authorities. The reasons why the Government concluded that the unified National Health Service should not be placed within local government are set out in the Green Paper.
§ 72. Mr. Arthur Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has so far received from interested bodies on the Green Paper on the National Health Service.
§ Mr. CrossmanMost of the bodies to which I sent copies of the Green Paper inviting comments on the proposals in it have formally acknowledged its receipt and promised to send me their views. I have not yet received any formal representations.