§ Mr. Corrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will undertake further consultation on the development of general management at unit level in the Scottish Health Service.
§ Mr. RifkindThe Scottish Home and Health Department has issued a draft circular and a copy of the report by Coopers and Lybrand Associates on general management at unit level in the Scottish Health Service for consultation. Copies of both documents have been placed in the Library. Comments on them have been requested by Friday 18 July 1986.
In my reply to my hon. Friend on 6 February 1986, at columns 233–34, I said that the full report of the Coopers and Lybrand study would not be an appropriate document for public consultation as it was likely to contain material confidential to the boards participating in the study. Having now seen the report, I am satisfied that it does not contain confidential material and, in the interests of informing the debate as far as possible, I am happy to authorise the wide dissemination of this useful report and the draft guidance based on it.
As I indicated in my reply of Thursday 6 February, Ministers will consider the results of this further consultation in the course of the summer and final guidance on general management at unit level will be issued in time for health boards to plan implementation following the holiday period.