§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of running community health councils throughout the United Kingdom.
§ Dr. OwenThe estimated cost for England and Wales in the current financial year is about £2.8 million.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many complaints she has received about the NHS through the medium of community health councils.
§ Dr. OwenCommunity health councils normally send their complaints direct to the relevant area health authority rather than to my right hon. Friend. Moreover, since the more usual course would be for the community health council to advise an individual complainant how to pursue the matter himself, it is not possible for my right hon. Friend to know all the cases where a community health council has been consulted.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what delays in decision making are caused by consulting community health councils.
§ Dr. OwenProvision is made in health authorities' timetables for consulting community health councils and other bodies. Experience so far as not revealed any general tendency for consultations with community health councils to cause undue delays.