asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his progress in considering the report of the Royal Commission on the Health Service.

Our consultative paper "Patients First" published today covers the Royal Commission's recommendations on the structure and management of the National Health Service. Other recommendations in the report are currently being studied by the health departments through the ordinary machinery and consultation on them will take place as appropriate. I have previously made it clear that those with significant resource implications must await the availability of increased funds to the National Health Service.