§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what account is taken of the closure of the accident and emergency departments at St. Bartholomew's, Guy's and other units within their operational area in the financial provisions for the London Ambulance Service recommended in the report to her from the chairman of the South Thames health authority.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe future work load and configuration of accident and emergency departments are taken into account in the forward planning of the London Ambulance Service. The funding of the LAS is a matter for the purchasers of its services.
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has that desirable standards in respect of London Ambulance services can be achieved by(a) unified and (b) fragmented service with equivalent resources.
§ Mr. SackvilleI look to the London Ambulance Service to improve its performance to the standards achieved by other ambulance services and believe that it should remain as a single unit provided it does so.