§ Mrs. CurrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will announce National Health Service trusts' external financing limits for 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. King) on 19 December.
§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is possible for a national health service trust to merge with non-trust health services without(a) public consultation or (b) without application to the Secretary of State for Health.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWe will be issuing detailed guidance on NHS trust mergers and acquisitions early in the new year. Where an NHS trust plans to merge with non-trust health services and this requires an amendment to the original statutory instrument formally establishing the trust the regional health authority will consult in accordance with section 5 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 under an order made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. In any other case the district health authority in question will consult the community health council.