§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what cross-border measures he is undertaking to improve(a) health and (b) education services in Wales. [183175]
§ Mr. TouhigI will answer this question in two parts:
- (a) Whether a patient is resident in England or in Wales, they are offered NHS care at the most clinically and geographically appropriate location for their treatment. In border areas there are numerous examples of long established relationships between health commissioning bodies and treatment providers across the border.
- (b) Pupils who live in England and attend schools in Wales are required to follow the national curriculum for Wales and vice versa. Schools on both sides of the border are free to choose examinations and qualifications from any of the awarding bodies irrespective of where those bodies are located.