§ 2. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider the allocation of non-recurrent earmarked grants to district health authorities to deal with arrears of building maintenance and renovation.
§ The Minister for Health (Mr. Kenneth Clarke)No, Sir. Health authorities are responsible for carrying out their own maintenance programmes from within the resources allocated to them. As local needs vary greatly from district to district, it is sensible for individual health authorities to determine their own priorities.
§ Mr. HooleyBy setting cash limits that do not accord with the rate of inflation, have not the Government put district health authorities under such severe pressure that they cannot keep up with the necessary repairs and maintenance? Would not an ad hoc grant here and there greatly help?
§ Mr. ClarkeThe allocation of moneys to the National Health Service generally has gone ahead of inflation. A considerable amount of growth money has been allocated to the Trent region, of which the hon. Gentleman's constituency is a part. Within that money it is for local authorities to determine their priorities. I am sure that they will give to building maintenance the priority that it justifies.