§ 9. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will undertake to make available in the autumn more money to cover the shortfall in health expenditure in the Dorset Area Health Authority amounting to £750,000 or if, in the alternative, she will make a recommendation as to which of the services should be withdrawn.
§ Dr. OwenThis is a matter for the Wessex Regional Health Authority in the light of the funds available to it.
§ Mr. KingDoes the Minister accept that all possible economies, including even the stopping of maintenance of hospitals, have already been effected and that no further economies are possible? What share of the global sum will come 230 to Dorset, and will the Minister have some part in taking what must be a very difficult decision?
§ Dr. OwenThe announcement by my right hon. Friend about the extra £40 million was made to the regional health authority chairmen. I can assure the House that the chairmen considered it to be a major step towards restoring the shortfall, and of course the Wessex Regional Health Authority chairman was at the meeting.