HC Deb 30 July 1997 vol 299 c388W
Mr. Jack

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the NHS efficiency task force will report; and if he will make a statement; [11059]

(2) how many meetings the NHS efficiency task force will be holding in 1997–98; [11026]

(3) how many times the national health service efficiency task force has met; [11030]

(4) if he will make a statement on the measures of efficiency which the NHS efficiency task force will use to determine whether its recommendations lead to improve patient care. [11029]

Mr. Milburn

The task force will not produce a formal report, but its initial findings are expected to be available in the autumn. The task force met on 12 June. Individual task force members will work with Ministers and officials to take forward specific areas of work. The effectiveness of the task force will be measured by the short-term savings it is able to make in the national health service without detriment to patient care.