To ask the Secretary of State for Health what alternative therapies are available on the NHS; and what steps he is taking to publicise their availability. [7705]

Homoeopathy has been an integral part of the national health service since its inception. NHS purchasers—district health authorities and general practitioner fundholders—have the freedom to purchase other forms of complementary medicine for their patients where they consider that is the most appropriate means of meeting assessed health needs of their local population. Like other forms of treatment—both orthodox and complementary—availability on the NHS and publicity of availability is a matter for local decision in the light of competing priorities against available resources.