To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to the answer, Official Report, 8 March, column 178, he is yet in a position to announce the distribution of a further £30 million for reducing waiting lists; and what proportion is for reducing waiting lists for eye treatment.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) on 10 March at columns 341–42. Regional health authorities are currently finalising their programmes to tackle waiting lists and times in 1988–89. They have so far put forward over 350 projects for funding from within their allocations from the £30 million waiting list fund; 44 of these are in the specialty of ophthalmology.