§ Mr. Craigen asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will hold discussions with the Greater Glasgow health board and other health boards in the West of Scotland over the lack of facilities for the treatment of cancer patients; and whether he intends to give assistance to the Glasgow board to increase the present availability of beds.
§ Mr. Allan Stewart:I do not propose to hold discussions with the Greater Glasgow health board and other health boards in the West of Scotland on the facilities for the treatment of cancer patients, since it is for these boards, which have detailed knowledge of the needs of their areas, to decide on their own priorities and how treatment services will be organised within the resources allocated to them. The report by the Cancer Programme Planning Group of the Scottish health Service Planning Council entitled "Cancer Services in Scotland" was issued to all health Boards in Scotland in May this year. The report gave guidance to health boards on the future planning of cancer services and boards were asked to take the report's recommendations into account when considering these services in the light of the general framework for all health services proposed in "Scottish Health Authorities Priorities for the Eighties".