§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of persons on hospital waiting lists in Scotland at 31 March 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982; and what is the latest estimate available.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe information is as follows:
As at 31 March Numbers on waiting lists 1975 56,878 1976 55,182 1979 76,616 1980 69,904 1981 67,679 1982 *67,133 * Provisional.
Although the indications are that waiting lists have increased substantially since March, I am awaiting the normal half-yearly returns as at 30 September.