asked the Minister for Health with reference to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 20 of Wednesday, 12 November, regarding the patients' property fund, if he will state: (1) in addition to the figures held by each of the eight health boards the amount which is held by the hospitals which have not been remitted to the health boards; (2) the total amount of interest which accrued at 30 September 1986, or at the latest available date; (3) the reason the individual accounts are not subject to the annual audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General; (4) the amount of interest accrued to the patients' property fund in 1985; (5) if any of this was paid to the patients; (6) the purpose for which this interest is used; (7) if patients are given an annual statement of the balance of moneys outstanding to their credit; and, if not, the reason.
Written Answers. - Patients' Property Fund.
101.
The Deputy is seeking a considerable amount of information in addition to that given in my reply to his question of 12 November. This level of detailed information is not readily available to my Department. It involves the collection and collation of a large amount of data from each individual health board. I regret, therefore, that it has not been possible to supply the information within the time available. However, my Department has asked the health boards to furnish the data as a matter of urgency, and I undertake to let the Deputy have a full reply as soon as possible.