HC Deb 11 March 2002 vol 381 cc817-8W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the merger of health authorities in Lancashire. [2935]

Mr. Hutton

I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding to this question. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

Following the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on "Shifting the Balance of Power", the current 75 health authorities will be merged to form 28 strategic health authorities.

Three strategic health authorities will cover the northwest: Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside, and Cumbria and Lancashire. All of the proposed strategic health authorities have already been subject to a formal period of public consultation. The health authorities in Lancashire and Cumbria will therefore merge on 1 April 2002, but subject to legislation, the new health authorities will form the strategic health authority by the autumn.