To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations she had received on the reconfiguration of primary care trusts in Cambridgeshire, up to 22 March 2006; how many of these were supportive of the proposals outlined by the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire strategic health authority; and if she will make a statement. (67443)

Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge primary care trust (PCT) consulted on having three PCTs (Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire) or five PCTs (Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Great Yarmouth and Waveney).

Secretary of State and other Health Ministers received 18 representations on the reconfiguration of PCTs in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire up to 22 March 2006.

The 18 representations were made against the strategic health authorities and were broken down as follows:

two lobbied for single PCT for Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT;

11 lobbied for a single PCT for Huntingdon;

three lobbied for a single PCT for Peterborough;

two suggested alternatives to the options that were being consulted on.

An announcement on PCT reconfiguration was made on 16 May. The new configuration of PCTs in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge will be five PCTs. The new PCTs are expected to come into force in October.