§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the cost of eradicating national health service waiting lists.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyIt is reducing waiting time, rather than the overall list size, which is important. This is a key national health service objective backed by additional resources through the £37 million waiting list fund. The drive to eliminate excessive waiting is picking up speed. In the six months to September 1991, the number of patients waiting over a year fell by 24 per cent., and the number waiting over two years by 47 per cent.