§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the first Report of the Health Services Board recommending further reductions of accommodation and services for private patients in NHS hospitals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EnnalsAs I told my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, West (Dr. Phipps) in my reply to his Question on 21st March—[Vol. 928, c.412–13.] I agree at the request of the Board to extend the length of the initial period from 22nd May to 16th July. Recently the Chairman of the Board, Lord Wigoder, wrote to me again seeking a further extension of the initial period until 30th September. I considered this unanimous request of the Board and its reasons for asking for more time very carefully before agreeing to it. I noted particularly Lord Wigoder's statement that in so far as the Board's
proposals have also to include the date upon which they take effect, we would hope that this date would not in any event appreciably 367W differ from any date we would have determined were the July 16 deadline still to stand.I am placing copies of Lord Wigoder's letter and my reply in the Library.