asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now make a statement about his proposals for reorganising the National Health Service.
After careful consideration of the proposals in the previous Government's Green Paper and the views expressed by many professional and other interests, I have decided that the administration of the National Health Service in Scotland should be unified and that the general practitioner, hospital and local health services should be administered by a single health authority in each area. I propose that the new authorities should be outside local government, but should have close links with the local authorities responsible for the social work services and environmental health services. A new structure on these lines will, I hope, enable the doctors and other professional people working in the health services to provide a better service for their patients.I intend to examine very closely, in consultation with representatives of the organisations concerned, the detailed structure required to ensure the most effective operation of the unified service. I hope to be able to publish a fuller statement of my proposals early in 1971.In working out my proposals I shall keep in close touch with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Social Services and the Secretary of State for Wales; but I shall have in mind that special needs and circumstances in Scotland may require differences in the administrative structure.