Mr. Alan WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of his powers to tackle waste and bureaucracy within the national health service. [9904]
§ Mr. MilburnMinisters are able, through the national health service executive, to introduce measures to tackle waste and bureaucracy in the NHS and we have already done so. On 22 May we announced a package of measures including a £100 million reduction in NHS management costs in 1997–98.
The Audit Commission also has an important role in promoting efficiency in the NHS