§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the proposed timetable for the merger of the Redbridge and Waltham Forest district health authorities; and if she will outline the statutory procedure which such a merger is required to follow.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe merger of the Redbridge and Waltham Forest district health authorities is included in the National Health Service (District Health Authorities) Order 1993 and the National Health Service (Determination of Districts) Order 1993 which were laid304W before the House on 11 March. Both orders are effective from 1 April 1993. No other statutory procedures are needed to effect the merger.
Formal consultation took place from 1 September to 30 November 1992 on the proposal to merge the authorities. On 3 March, I announced our decision to merge the two authorities and to appoint Ms Delva Patman as chairman of the new Redbridge and Waltham Forest district health authority.