HC Deb 26 July 1983 vol 46 cc1041-2
17. Mr. Hoyle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many regional health authorities will have net growth in their revenue budgets following the implementation of the proposal announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 7 July.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Ten, Sir. In the other four regions the impact of the reductions in finance should be offset by more efficient use of existing resources, particularly manpower.

Mr. Hoyle

But is not the real truth that there will be a cut in every region? How does the hon. and learned Gentleman square that with the statement of the Prime Minister that the NHS was safe with her, when further cuts are intended, and when she said that there would be an increase in spending of £700 million this year, £800 million next year and £700 million the year after? Is not this deception of the electorate a resigning matter?

Mr. Clarke

The real truth, as I have said, is that there will not be cuts in 10 out of the 14 regions. The real truth also is that the overall resources devoted to the NHS will be as planned; in the case of the hospital services, about the same as last year. The four regions that are suffering some reduction in finance are comparatively over-resourced regions and we must work towards a fair distribution of those resources, not least for the benefit of an under-resourced district health authority such as Warrington, whose cause the hon. Gentleman is usually urging on me.

Mr. Dubs

Is not the real truth that the four regional health authorities covering the London area will be under enormous pressure, with serious consequences for the district health authorities in inner London? How many hospitals does the Minister think will be closed as a result of these proposals?

Mr. Clarke

The four Thames regions have more than their fair share of resources. That is not a fact suddenly discovered by this Government; it was discovered by previous Governments. We therefore have to reallocate resources to give a fairer distribution to the rest of the country. In London there is a surplus of acute beds but a shortage of some other services, particularly community services. Therefore we must reallocate within the Thames regions as well. That process will lead only to the closure of surplus, redundant or unnecessary beds to release resources for other patient care.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

Is the Minister aware that it is not long since he was talking about the reallocation of finance to areas such as Newcastle-upon-Tyne because of the enormous problems of that area, yet here we have a £1 million cut being imposed by him so soon after the election?

Mr. Clarke

We are talking about redistribution in favour of the northern region, and we still are; that continues to be the policy of the Government.