To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy on a district health authority in one region taking over responsibility for part of the geographical area of a district health authority in a different region.

District health authority boundaries were established in 1982 after the most careful consultation locally and consideration of all the circumstances bearing on the effective delivery of services to patients. We would apply the same strict criteria to any proposal for changing those boundaries. I understand that a number of health authorities already manage some services on behalf of and within another authority's boundaries. That is a matter for agreement locally.