§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those areas which have developed joint commissioning operations for the planning and purchasing of primary and secondary health care in their area; and what are the principal organisational models used.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIn Scotland, health boards are, and always have been, responsible for both primary — family health services —and secondary —hospital and community health services. In their new, enhanced role as purchasers of health services they have retained responsibility for commissioning both types of service. There has therefore been no need to develop joint commissioning operations as in England.