asked the Minister of Health how many inquiries he has ordered during the last year into complaints by patients or their dependants against the National Health Service.

Table 36 of my Department's Annual Report for 1964 gives the number of appeals heard during that year on my instructions in connection with complaints investigated by Executive Councils. Though I have not had occasion during the last year to order any formal inquiries into complaints about other branches of the service, I have from time to time requested Health Service authorities to investigate complaints brought to my notice.