HC Deb 31 July 1998 vol 317 c784W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what timescale his Department is working to in drawing up national service frameworks. [53996]

Mr. Boateng

Each National Service Framework is being developed with the assistance of an expert reference group. The reference groups for coronary heart disease and mental health have begun their work. Their emerging findings will be available in autumn 1998, prior to publication of the National Service Frameworks in Spring 1999. This will enable health authorities, together with their partners, including local authorities, to begin to plan their Health Improvement Programmes for implementation from April 1999.