HC Deb 15 December 1982 vol 34 cc273-5
6. Mr. Maxton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when next he plans to meet the chairman of the Greater Glasgow health board to discuss the board's future expenditure plans.

Mr. John. MacKay

I met the chairman and members of the Greater Glasgow health board on 2 September this year to discuss the financial situation of the board and the provision of health services generally in Glasgow. Since then I have met the chairman on several occasions, the most recent being on Monday. I have no plans at present to have further discussions on the board's future financial plans.

Mr. Maxton

Will the Minister nevertheless make arrangements to go with Sir Simpson Stevenson to see the appalling state of health care at Castlemilk? Having done so, and having discussed the problems with community representatives in the area, will he ensure that the health board receives extra money to build a proper health centre for that community?

Mr. MacKay

I have just received an invitation from the hon. Gentleman to visit Castlemilk, and I am always ready to discuss matters with hon. Members. The actual expenditure of the Greater Glasgow health board is a matter for the board to decide, but only a fortnight ago I opened the splendid health centre that it has built at Bridgeton. I am confident that the board is well aware of the problems in various parts of the city, including the hon. Gentleman's constituency.

Mr. Henderson

Will my hon. Friend confirm that the resources available to the National Health Service in Scotland have increased in real terms and that this applies also to Glasgow?

Mr. MacKay

My hon. Friend is right. The total money available to the National Health Service in Scotland has increased greatly during the term of this Government. To be fair to the Greater Glasgow health board, however, as it was one of the better funded boards, the increase there has been less than the average to allow the less well funded health boards in Scotland to catch up.

Mr. Millan

Is not the Minister well aware that in the current year there has been a decrease, not an increase, in real terms due to the operation of the share formula in Glasgow? Is he further aware that this is causing great concern and major constituency problems and that services such as psychogeriatric provision and care for the mentally handicapped, which are supposed to be health priorities for the Government, are suffering as a result? Will the Government therefore re-examine the whole position as it is causing enormous concern in the medical profession and throughout Glasgow?

Mr. MacKay

I accept the right hon. Gentleman's general point about the position of Glasgow in relation to the share allocation. Nevertheless, its expenditure allocation this year is about £316 million, and it feels that it is about £6 million short. I am sure that by good housekeeping a saving of £6 million can be achieved within that total, especially if the position of other boards which have been historically underfunded can be improved as a result. [Interruption.] It ill-becomes the hon. Member for Stirling, Falkirk and Grangemouth (Mr. Ewing), who started the share formula on its way, to interrupt from a sedentary position.

Dr. M. S. Miller

Whatever the predilections of rich people in the London metropolitan area, will the Minister ensure that there are no inroads into the Health Service in Scotland of the kind that the Government have suggested in some parts of the United Kingdom? Does he agree that there is no place in Scotland for the kind of private medicine that the Government are trying to encourage?

Mr. MacKay

The allocation of money to the Health Service in Scotland is unrelated to the situation in London. We intend to continue the share distribution formula in order to be fair to health boards which, historically, have been underfunded. I am certain that private medicine has a place in the general sphere of medicine in this country. If an individual wishes to use private medical facilities, in a free country he must have the right to do so.

Mr. Corrie

Although my hon. Friend agrees that the share formula perhaps does not work so well for Glasgow, does he agree that, for boards such as the Ayrshire and Arran board, it works even less well and there is a desperate shortage of funds?

Mr. MacKay

My hon. Friend draws specific attention to one of the least well funded boards in Scotland. It is because of the position of that and other boards that both this Government and the Labour Government decided to take a responsible all-Scotland position. That is why the share formula was started and why we intend to continue it.

Mr. Millan

Will the Minister take on board the simple point that the share formula was never intended to reduce in real terms the resources provided to any board? There must be a continuation of more equitable sharing out of the total resources to the health boards. However, the system works in a way which, especially in Glasgow, means that it is impossible for the Greater Glasgow health board to meet the Government's priorities, quite apart from doing what it wishes in expanding its services.

Mr. MacKay

I welcome the right hon. Gentleman's assertion that he appreciates the need for shares. I readily accept that one problem in Glasgow has been the excessive rate increases that the health board has had to bear from the district and regional councils and the increased pay awards that have been made during the past two years. However, I reiterate that, with an expenditure allocation of £316 million, the Greater Glasgow health board can keep within it and not overshoot it by £6 million.