§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has discontinued(a) the collection or (b) the publication of any statistics since 1979.
§ Mr. FreemanChanges in statistical series are made when the Government's requirements for statistical information alter and in response to changes in the administrative systems on which some series are based. Certain changes have taken place on this basis since 1979. Such changes are documented in the Department's publications as required. For example, the effect of the implementation of the recommendations of the steering group on health services information (the Korner committee) was summarised in "Health Services Information—Changes to National Statistics" as well as in publications such as "Health and Personal Social Services Statistics for England 1989", copies of which are in the Library.
The publication of certain booklets containing manpower statistics has been discontinued but these statistics are freely available in the Library and an ad hoc service provides information on demand in the most suitable form for the user. Other new booklets have been introduced in response to current demand.