§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Socal Services if he will give figures for the bids for 1987–88 for money from the waiting list fund he announced on 6 November 1986 by (a) regional health authorities in total, (b) each regional health authority, (c) district health authorities in total and (d) each district health authority.
§ Mr. NewtonRegional health authorities initially submitted bids in December 1986 for projects to be supported from the 1987–88 allocation of the waiting list fund. The priority order of these bids was determined by regions. Some projects were later revised in the light of further discussions locally and with the Department. Since an important part of the process was to assess regional and district proposals to identify those which were best targeted and most cost-effective, it necessarily entailed districts putting to regions, and regions to the Department, bids for projects totalling in excess of the allocation for the year. The extent to which a district's or a region's proposed projects exceeded in total the planning guideline given in November varied according to local decision and comparisons would have no significance. Lists of the projects to be funded as agreed by regions in March 1987 have been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent figures for numbers on hospital waiting lists after 1 April 1987 will be comparable with those for numbers on hospital waiting lists before 1 April 1987; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as posible.