§ Mr. Majorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further decisions he is able to announce about the future administrative structure for health services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanI am pleased to be able to announce that my right hon. Friend has made decisions on the recommendations of a further two regional health authorities for restructuring the National Health Service within their regions. Subject to the necessary orders being made in due course, the following district health authorities will be established in the East Anglian and Oxford regions, and will come into being on 1 April 1982.
Further announcements will be made early next week and we hope to have all of them announced by the following week apart from inner London which will be completed shortly after.
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East Anglian Region Resident population (1982) Cambridge 235,000 Huntingdon 125,000 Peterborough 189,000
East Anglian Region Resident population (1982) West Norfolk and Wisbech 174,000 Norwich 439,000 Great Yarmouth and Waveney 182,000 East Suffolk 303,000 West Suffolk 216,000 As a result of these changes, the present three area authorities arid seven districts will be reduced to eight new district authorities.
Oxford Region Resident population (1982) Kettering 255,000 Northampton 280,000 Oxfordshire 520,000 Milton Keynes 130,000 Aylesbury 130,000 Wycombe 260,000 West Berkshire 420,000 East Berkshire 345,000 As a result of these changes, the present four area authorities with seven districts will be reduced to eight new district authorities.