§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical personnel and in what categories are being called upon to serve in Her Majesty's forces in the Gulf; and what assessment has been made of the effect on the quality of service and waiting lists in(a) Sunderland, (b) Durham and (c) Hartlepool.
§ Mr. DorrellI refer the hon. Member to the reply of my hon. Friend the Minister for Health to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) on 14 January at column415. No assessment has been made centrally of the impact on individual health authorities. We expect that all emergency cases will continue to be treated normally and that any effect on the treatment of non-emergency cases from waiting lists will be limited and short-lived.