§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what decisions have been taken on the type of information needed for the central assessment of the financial management performance of buyers' activity under the proposals of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThis is one of the issues addressed in our consultative paper "Framework for Information Systems: Information"; see annex 11, section 3. Copies are in the Library. No firm decisions will be taken until completion of the consultation exercise which ends on 30 March.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated total saving that it is hoped will follow the introduction of the changes in the National Health Service and Community Care Bill; and what is the breakdown of these savings by category, including hospital closure, more rapid throughput of patients and reductions in drug expenditure.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe object of our reforms of the Health Service is to improve the choice and quality of services available to NHS patients rather than to produce savings. Some of the proposals will lead to the more310W considered and cost-effective use of resources and this will enable the Health Service to increase the level of patient care it provides.