Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Chan (Crossbench). It was answered on Wednesday, 14 December 2005.

NHS Funding: Patient Care

Question: My Lords, would the Minister then care to explain why there is this merger of primary care trusts which will definitely save hundreds of millions of pounds and also the likely closure of a number of strategic health authorities?

Answer: My Lords, we are consulting on a reduction in the number of strategic health authorities and possible changes in the boundaries of PCTs. We committed ourselves to saving £250 million in this area in our manifesto and we will move forward on that. That will be more money for front-line services. The PCT changes will also strengthen commissioning in the NHS, as has recently been made clear in a number of ministerial statements to that effect.

Secondary information