§ 11. Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total expenditure on the National Health Service in Wales in the latest year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe latest year for which outturn figures are available is 1982–83. In that year gross expenditure on the National Health Service in Wales was £766.6 million.
§ Mr. ThomasWill the Minister accept what he apparently failed to accept in our exchanges recently in the Western Mail, namely, that the overall budget of the National Health Service in Wales is underfunded and that, were the RAWP formula, which is available for English regions, operating for the total NHS revenue in Wales, Wales would have an additional 7 per cent. of total funding?
§ Mr. RobertsI am sorry that evidently the hon. Gentleman has not seen the reply that was published to his letter in the Western Mail—or at least he has not absorbed its contents. What that letter said, as I shall now make clear, is that Wales has moved, during the period of this Government, to almost exactly the share suggested by Professor Maynard's calculations, and that does not take into account the substantial growth of about 2 per cent. in the revenue resources to be provided to district health authorities next year.
§ Mr. RobertsI have today notified health authorities in Wales of their provisional revenue allocations for next 11 year. No authority is being allocated a base line which is less than its current year's provision, uplifted for pay and price movements, and most will be better off. All authorities in Wales will have available to them additional funds to finance new developments in 1984–85. The total of hospital and community health revenue provision will be about 2 per cent. more than in 1983–84.
§ Mr. Colemanrose—
§ Mr. D. E. ThomasOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the totally unsatisfactory nature of that reply—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We are still discussing the question.
§ Mr. ColemanWith regard to the allocations that the Minister has just announced, has he any proposals for the establishment of facilities in Wales that will cater for patients whose homes and families are in the Principality but who are presently accommodated in hospitals such as Rampton? If not, when will he make such provision available?
§ Mr. RobertsWe are considering the whole question of secure accommodation in our hospitals in Wales. We have recently made a spate of announcements and we shall undoubtedly be making an announcement about that matter in the not too distant future.
§ Mr. ThomasIn view of the totally unsatisfactory and incomprehensible nature of the Minister's answer, I beg to give notice that I shall seek leave to raise the matter on the Adjournment.