§ 8. Mr. CranTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's cash allocation for Yorkshire and Humberside health authority for 1989–90.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Yorkshire regional health authority received an initial revenue cash allocation of £951.2 million in 1989–90. There has been a real terms increase in expenditure of about 31 per cent. for Yorkshire over the past 10 years.
§ Mr. CranDoes my hon. Friend agree that that is record expenditure, and that it represents spending of £280 per man, woman and child in Yorkshire and Humberside? Does he also agree that, based on last year's experience, that will probably provide treatment for more than 4,500,000 patients in that region alone? Does my hon. Friend agree that patients are a more accurate guide to the success of the NHS than the politically motivated comments of Opposition Members?
§ Mr. FreemanExpenditure for the NHS as a whole is about twice the figure that my hon. Friend quoted. He has cited only the hospital service. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health expects to make a statement shortly on regional health authority allocations, which will show continued advance in real terms for the NHS in the regions.
§ Mr. LofthouseIs the Minister aware that seven district health authorities in the Yorkshire region confront a deficit which will have a serious effect on patient care?
§ Mr. FreemanI am aware of the financial problems of certain districts in Yorkshire. It is the responsibility of health authorities to manage their affairs within the resources allocated to them. Under both Labour and Conservative Governments health authorities have been cash limited. It is their responsibility to manage. Our reforms, which bring the allocation of funds on a weighted capitation basis to districts, will provide a fairer and more automatic system of fund allocation.