§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in implementing the promise of the Chancellor of the Exchequer made during his 1978 Budget Speech-11th April 1978—that there would be an extra 400 kidney machines during the year 1978–79; and whether any of these will be available before 31st March 1979.
§ Mr. Moyle:All the funds provided for the expansion of dialysis services during the year 1978–79 following the last Budget have been made available to 904W regional health authorities for this purpose. I am satisfied that health authorities are expanding their dialysis services as quickly as possible, having regard to the need to recruit skilled staff, to provide accommodation for the additional facilities and to install equipment. I expect a substantial proportion of the additional facilities to be available to patients before the end of the current financial year.