§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the savings from extending from three to five the waiting days before (a) sickness and (b) unemployment benefit is paid.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe net savings would be about £40 million for sickness benefit and of the order of £8 million for
520Whospitals has for many years presented varied and complex problems. It is a question both of resources and of attitudes. Much effort is already devoted to individual cases and to the problems in general and some 150 patients a year are transferred. A period of waiting for a suitable place to arise is often unavoidable but many patients have to wait much too long. To overcome the problems, a closer understanding is needed, for example between the Department and health authorities, between special hospitals and other hospitals and within the professions—and this I shall seek to promote for the future.