To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the waiting lists for each district health authority, SHA and regional health authority for 30 September 1989.

I am arranging for these summaries to be published in the next couple of weeks. Copies will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health with what frequency waiting list information is collected; and if he will consider publishing the regional and national totals on a quarterly basis.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 8 March at column 828. We intend to continue the practice of routine twice-yearly publication of waiting list information so as to maintain a consistent series of statistics, without incurring unnecessary expense.