To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of patients on the Northumberland health authority's hospital waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

At 30 September 1989, a total of 1,610 patients were awaiting admission to hospital for in-patient treatment and 491 were awaiting day case treatment in Northumberland health authority. In September 1987, the corresponding figures were 1,789 and 539. Between September 1987 and September 1989 the percentage of patients waiting over a year fell from 20 per cent. to 11 per cent. for in-patients and from 7 per cent. to 3 per cent. for day cases.