§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many copies of "Working for Patients" working paper 11, "Framework for Information", and invitations to take part in the consultation on it, were sent to(a) health authorities, (b) family practitioner committees, (c) community health councils, (d) professional organisations, (e) academic departments and research units, (f) voluntary organisations, (g) trade unions, (h) management and computer consultants, (i) suppliers of goods and equipment, (j) other private companies and (k) other organisations.
§ Mr. DorrellA total of 3,400 copies of working paper 11 were distributed; this included copies to all Members of Parliament for England.
Working paper 11 was part of a set of consultative documents. The set was sent to:
Number District health authorities 190 Special health authorities 8 Regional health authorities 14 Family practitioner committees 90 Community health councils 0 Professional organisations 59 Academic organisations and research units 29 Voluntary organisations 8 Trade unions 7 Management and computer consultants 32 Suppliers of goods and equipment 32 Other private companies 31 Other organisations 21 Additional copies of the consultative documents were available from the health publications unit. Although the unit does not keep a record of the organisations to which it sends copies, approximately 3,800 copies of both the main texts of the consultative documents for information and IT were distributed.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many replies he has received from his366W consultation on working paper 11, broken down into (a) health authorities, family practitioner committees and community health councils, (b) management and computer consultants, (c) suppliers of goods and equipment, (d) academic departments and research units, (e) professional organisations and (f) other organisations.
§ Mr. DorrellA total of 222 written replies were received. Several organisations sent more than one response. Some regions sent a response which reflected the views of their districts. The breakdown of the organisations sending at least one response was:
Number Health authorities, units, FPCs and CHCs 124 Management and computer consultants 3 Suppliers of goods and services 11 Academic departments and research units 8 Professional organisations 20 Other organisations 14 Total 180 A list of the organisations responding to the consultative exercise is given in appendix 1 of the document, published this week, entitled "Framework for Information Systems: The Next Steps". Aimed primarily at information systems specialists, the document presents the conclusions of the consultation exercise. Copies have been placed in the Library.