§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what increase in public expenditure the creation of patients forums would require, after taking account of current funding allocations to community health councils and PALS. [16617]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 22 November 2001]: People are the most important resource and we will be working to ensure that we make the best use of time offered by lay volunteers in the health service. Patients forums will, of course, require support in terms of human and financial resources for their work, which will be provided by the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health through its local networks. Funding is therefore tied into the overall resource requirements for the commission and the new arrangements collectively, which we are discussing with Her Majesty's Treasury as part of the spending review process.