§ Mr. Traceyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide details of progress made towards creating a new Riverside health authority.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe have today laid before the House orders designed to abolish the existing Victoria and Hammersmith and Fulham health authorities and to create a new Riverside authority. The new Riverside district will cover the same areas of London as the current Victoria and Hammersmith and Fulham districts combined.
In November last we approved in principle the proposal by the North-West Thames regional health authority to create Riverside. In deciding upon the constitution of the new authority we have given careful and detailed consideration to the responses to the consultation recently undertaken. We recognise that the constitution of the new authority should reflect the need for strong and effective joint planning between the local authorities involved in the delivery of health care. We have also sought to secure 76W effective liaison between the new authority and the newly created Charing Cross and Westminster medical school. And we have recognised the crucial role that will be played by locally resident generalist lay members.
Subject to the reaction of right hon. and hon. Members, the orders will come into force on 1 April 1985.