§ 44. Dr. D. Johnsonasked the Minister of Health if he will instruct regional hospital boards to give sufficient notice 607 to hospital management committees of any such cash balances as may be due to be distributed to them during the current financial year; and whether he will permit the spending of such balances to cover goods and services paid for after 31st March, 1958, provided that these are ordered or commissioned prior to that date.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithRegional hospital boards are already well aware of the need to let hospital mangement committees know in good time the amount they may spend in the financial year. The limit of their authority to spend is related to expenditure incurred (including the cost of goods received or brought into use and of services rendered) during the year.
§ Dr. JohnsonDespite what my right hon. and learned Friend says, is he not aware that several hospitals in the area of my constituency were quite seriously embarrassed at the beginning of this year by a sudden access of funds, all of which were to be spent by 31st March? Could he not arrange that, provided orders for works and services and goods to be supplied were given before that date, some arrangement for payment could be made subsequently?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithIt is not the case, as my hon. Friend suggests, that an amount of money has to be spent during the financial year. As he will know, hospital authorities are not given an outright grant. They are told the limit of their expenditure. If they are able to provide their facilities for less, then, of course, they should do so. As to a carry-over, that would be contrary to financial practice and would certainly not be free from difficulties.