§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many local health boards he expects to be created in Wales under the NHS Reform Bill. [20895]
§ Mr. TouhigThe NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Bill provides a power for the National Assembly for Wales to establish bodies called local health boards. It will be for the Assembly, through subordinate legislation, to determine how many local health boards are to be set up. The Assembly's Minister for Health and Social Services has stated her intention to set up 22 local health boards following her consultation on the structural proposals for NHS Wales.