§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what, at the latest date for which figures are available, was the average difference in waiting time for hospital beds, for private patients and National Health Service patients, respectively for cataract operations, tonsillectomy, gynaecological operations, hysterectomy and vasectomy.
§ Mr. AlisonStatistics of this kind are not available and broad averages over whole categories of surgical work would in any case be meaningless. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the explanation given in paragraphs 16–23 of the White Paper on Private Practice in National Health Service Hospitals (Cmnd. 5270).