To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what urgent action is now proposed to reduce the waiting lists in Gwent following the meeting with the chairman of Gwent area health authority on 13 May.

As I announced yesterday, £1 million has been made available to Welsh health authorities under the hospital waiting times initiative in the current financial year. Of this, Gwent health authority has been offered £225,000 to help tackle waiting list problems in trauma and orthopaedic. In addition, Gwent has recently submitted its revised waiting list action plan and in conjunction with Welsh Office officials, it is actively working on its waiting list problems.