HC Deb 13 April 1989 vol 150 cc702-3W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to review the provision to Parliament of sufficient information to monitor the development of the artificial limb and appliance services, in view of his refusal to provide substantive replies to parliamentary questions relating to services provided by the Disablement Services Authority; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

[holding answer 12 April 1989]: Questions relating to services provided by the Disabled Services Authority (DSA) should be addressed to the Disablement Services Authority. The Secretary of State has referred most parliamentary questions relating to the artificial limb and appliance service accordingly. Hon. and right hon. Members who have been so referred have received full and detailed information of the progress made by the DSA in implementing its statutory functions. The authority also publishes an annual report which is available in the Library of the House. The Secretary of State has no plans for reviewing these arrangements.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what date he expects to transfer the responsibility for the artificial limb and appliance services from the Disablement Services Authority to health authorities; what wil be his policy on providing information concerning the services in reply to parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

[holding answe 12 April 1989]: The Disablement Services Authority will transfer responsibility for the artificial limb and appliance service (ALAS) to NHS health authorities on 1 April 1991. Until then, the Secretary of State will continue to refer questions relating to the ALAS to the Disablement Services Authority which he is confident will continue to provide, direct to hon. and right hon. Members, full and detailed information concerning developments in the services it administers.