Mr. Ted Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she is aware that there is a waiting period of eight weeks for people requiring advice and attention at the Darlington family planning clinics, and if she will take steps to see that the necessary staff and resources are available to improve this service.
§ Dr. OwenThe waiting time varies from 11 weeks at one of the Family Planning Association's clinics to under four weeks at hospital clinics. I have recently notified health authorities in England of their share of the £12 million towards the cost of former local authority health 289W services, which includes the family planning service, and in addition I have made available to the same authorities a sum of £1 million towards the cost of family planning services.