§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the health authorities and units that are working on specimen contracts for health care in respect of his National Health Service reforms;
(2) if he will list the research programmes his Department is running on the National Health Service reform proposals;
(3) if he will list the health regions and health districts that are working on the detail of the internal market for his proposed National Health Service reforms.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyAll health authorities are now preparing to implement the proposals in the White Paper "Working for Patients", subject to the passage of the necessary legislation. The Government are, in addition, supporting development work in a number of authorities where this is more advanced. The purpose of this support is to build up practical experience and understanding of how the new arrangements will operate so that this can benefit the service as a whole. The Department is supporting a programme of development work rather than research but the results will be evaluated fully.
The following health authorities are involved in work on contracting for services, including the development of specimen contracts:
- Newcastle
- Sunderland
- South Tees
- Yorkshire (region and districts)
- East Anglian (region and districts)
- City and Hackney
- West Dorset
- South Western (region and districts)
- Coventry
- Kidderminster
- North Western (region and districts)