§ Mr. Scottasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet received the advice of the London advisory group on the four Thames regional health authorities' proposals for setting up new district health authorities in London; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Dr. VaughanI am grateful to the London advisory group for its careful advice on the setting up of new health authorities in London. I am also grateful for the speed with which it has presented its report. In most cases it has confirmed the proposals made by the regional health authorities but in one important instance—the creation of a single district health authority including the Westminster and Charing Cross hospitals—it has introduced a new proposal in the light of the recent changes in medical education agreed by the University of London.
The advisory group's recommendations are of great significance and it is important that its views should be made widely available. We are therefore publishing its report before announcing any decision. We will be considering the group's report, together with the formal proposals of the regional health authorities, most carefully. I hope, however, that final decisions on the future pattern of district health authorities in London will be announced within the next few weeks.
Copies of the report are available in the Vote Office, and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.