§ Mr. Raisonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are his proposals for reorganising the administrative structure of the National Health Service.
§ Sir K. JosephI have today invited comments on a Consultative Document on National Health Service Reorganisation in England. It includes proposals aimed at stronger unified management of all parts of the National Health Service240W through a new structure of regional and area health authorities. Common boundaries will relate this structure to the reorganised pattern of local government proposed in the White Paper "Local Government in England" (Cmnd. 4584).
The Consultative Document, which has been sent to the main Health Service organisations, is being made public, and copies have been sent to hon. Members. When comments on the proposals have been considered I shall publish a White Paper containing the Government's decisions and a statement of principles on which legislation will be based. A separate announcement will shortly be made about the position in Wales.