§ 14. Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what basis the revenue allocation to the Oxford regional health authority for 1981.82 was calculated.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinRevenue allocations are made on the basis of the recommendations in the report of the resource allocation working party, which provides a broad assessment of relative health care need between different populations.
§ Mr. MorrisAs the needs include population movement, what action is my right hon. Friend taking to ensure a fair distribution between the Northamptonshire AHA, with the vast population increase there, and the Oxford AHA, which is vehemently overspending?
§ Mr. JenkinAllocation to individual AHAs is a matter for the regional health authority, but special account is taken of the needs of new towns. For the past four years the Oxford region has received a revenue addition specifically to help the development of services in the new towns of Northampton and Milton Keynes. For 1981–82 the sum is £784,000, to be shared between new town developments.
§ Mr. SkinnerShould not the Minister tell his hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Morris) that he had better not make comparisons between his own area in Northamptonshire and, for example, the Derby authority, which might lead to the closure of the neurology department, or with the Sheffield health authority, which would result in the closure of a spina bifida hospital for young children, which would mean that the Government are prepared to act as terrorists?
§ Mr. JenkinI point out gently to the hon. Gentleman that the Trent regional health authority had built into its allocations this year a percentage growth that was five times that of the four Thames regions and as high as that of any other region in the country. The hon. Gentleman's extravagant language is totally out of place.
§ Mr. SkinnerThe right hon. Gentleman ought to be ashamed of himself.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.