Mr Major’s Written Question on Health Services – 4 June 1981

Below is the text of Mr Major’s Parliamentary written question on Health Services, published on 4th June 1981.

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Mr. Major Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further decisions he is able to announce about the future administrative structure for health services; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Vaughan I am pleased to be able to announce that my right hon. Friend has made decisions on the recommendations of a further two regional health authorities for restructuring the National Health Service within their regions. Subject to the necessary orders being made in due course, the following district health authorities will be established in the East Anglian and Oxford regions, and will come into being on 1 April 1982.

Further announcements will be made early next week and we hope to have all of them announced by the following week apart from inner London which will be completed shortly after.

East Anglian Region | Resident population (1982)

Cambridge | 235,000

Huntingdon | 125,000

Peterborough | 189,000

East Anglian Region | Resident population (1982)

West Norfolk and Wisbech | 174,000

Norwich | 439,000

Great Yarmouth and Waveney | 182,000

East Suffolk | 303,000

West Suffolk | 216,000

As a result of these changes, the present three area authorities and seven districts will be reduced to eight new district authorities.

Oxford Region | Resident population (1982)

Kettering | 255,000

Northampton | 280,000

Oxfordshire | 520,000

Milton Keynes | 130,000

Aylesbury | 130,000

Wycombe | 260,000

West Berkshire | 420,000

East Berkshire | 345,000

As a result of these changes, the present four area authorities with seven districts will be reduced to eight new district authorities.