To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent financial provision he has made for the expenditure of waiting list initiative money on long waiting-list elective surgery cases at the Prince of Wales orthopaedic hospital, Rhydlafar near Cardiff; what arrangements he has made with the South Glamorgan health authority; and what the comparable follow-on arrangements will be for the same category of cases after 1 April.

The total level of funding made available in 1991–92 for the treatment centre at the Prince of Wales hospital, Rhydlafar is £654,777. This will enable a total of 250 operations to be performed. Under the waiting times initiative a further 40 operations have been funded at a cost of £64,000. The treatment centres will continue to be centrally funded in 1992–93 and district health authorities will shortly be informed of the arrangements.