To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities have achieved the previous Government's targets for reduction in management costs; and what assessment he has made of how soon health authorities will implement the £120 million of further cuts required in management and office costs. [7968]

Final accounts figures for health authority costs and trust management costs in 1996–97 are expected to be available towards the end of the year.On 22 May, we announced that national health service management costs would be reduced by £100 million in 1997–98.