§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what response he has had from health authorities to his request for plans to reduce patient waiting lists and patient waiting time; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he proposes to issue a list of measures all health authorities can take to reduce waiting lists and waiting time; if further resources will be made available to enable the measures to be implemented; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if health authorities will be left to implement individual strategies to reduce patient waiting lists and waiting time; if extra resources will be made available to enable the strategies to be implemented; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if he has received a report from the North East Thames regional health authority concerning methods of reducing waiting lists and waiting times for patients; what plans he has to put their recommendations into effect; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 1 December 1986, c. 531–32]: A checklist of possible ways to reduce waiting lists and times was issued to all health authorities earlier this year. North East Thames regional health authority, and all other regional health authorities, have submitted reports on their districts' plans to bring about such a reduction.
Numbers of families on benefit (thousands) Economic status Up to 1 year 1–2 years 2–3 years 3–4 years 4–5 years Over 5 years Total One-parent families Over pension age 1 1 — — — 1 3 Under pension age Sick/disabled 3 1 — — — 1 6 Unemployed 8 1 — 1 — 2 12 Others 133 92 69 51 36 120 501 Total 144 95 70 53 37 124 522 Two-parent families Over pension age — 1 — 1 — 1 4 Under pension age Sick/disabled 16 5 2 1 1 3 27 Unemployed 208 93 63 54 35 37 491 Others 3 2 2 1 1 3 13 Total 227 101 68 57 37 45 535 Source: Annual Statistical Enquiry 1984.
806WEach region will now develop and implement these strategies in the light of comments which the Department has made on their reports. In addition to the increased resources for hospital and community health services generally which are being made available, my right hon. Friend has established a fund totalling £50 million over the two years 1987–89 from which health authorities who can show that they are using their general resources effectively will be able to bid for extra money for specific initiatives.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the findings of the inquiry into the application of the resource allocation working party in the Thames health authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 1 December 1986, c. 532]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage.