§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment has been made by the Scottish Office of the costs involved in establishing the NHS trusts in Scotland; and if he will make a statement on the costs involved in setting up the south Ayrshire NHS Trust, the Community Health Care NHS Trust and the north Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust.
§ Mr. StewartI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) on 6 December 1993,Official Report, column 77. Already the evidence emerging from NHS trusts in Scotland is of more patients being treated, improved facilities and services better adapted to patient needs. This is very promising and I am sure that the general public in Ayrshire, as elsewhere, will want to encourage trusts in their endeavours to further improve patient care.