§ Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in considering the response received to the Government's consultative paper, " Patients First ", on the structure and management of the National Health Service, he will consider providing a greated degree of estate management and works input for the planning system in the National Health Service in the future, and whether he considers the district works officer should be a member of the district management team, so that this aspect of planning capital programmes can be considered at all stages.
§ Dr. Vaughan" Patients First " confirmed that the NHS planning system had proved its value but was in need of simplification. A review of the system is in progress, including the estate management and works input to the planning process. The future composition of district teams is similarly under review, and we expect to make a policy statement in July.