§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when and for what reason the £1.5 million allocated across all three services to reduce secondary care agency orthopaedic waiting lists for those on operational duties was withdrawn as part of his Department's annual efficiency savings. [104923]
§ Mr. SpellarFunding to reduce orthopaedic waiting lists in the Defence Secondary Care Agency was not removed as part of my Department's efficiency programme as no funds had been allocated for this purpose in 1999–2000. At the beginning of the financial year consideration was given to the possibility of identifying funding to reduce waiting lists, primarily but not exclusively, for orthopaedic treatment. However, this did not prove to be practical, although some additional physiotherapy, provided through a separate initiative, is likely to have affected the numbers on waiting lists overall. The possibility of pursuing action to reduce orthopaedic waiting lists in the next financial year is currently under consideration.