§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment he has made of the relative 401W prevalence of back pain and arthritis in the Welsh population compared with the United Kingdom as a whole; and to what he attributes variations; [6065]
(2) what resources he has committed to the study of the causes of changes in the prevalence of (a) asthma, (b) arthritis and (c) back pain in Wales. [6068]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesIndications of improvement in the levels of asthma, arthritis and back pain are currently being considered by a working group led by the Welsh Office with representatives of Welsh health authorities.
The working group is to identify a range of indicators and target levels which could be achieved over the next five years by the application of evidence based clinical care.
Before it is issued in March 1997 the list of indictors and targets will be subject to consultation with the health service, starting in December this year.