§ 64. Mr. Parkerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the considerable savings which would result from a concentration of the activities of hospital management committees, especially through the sale of sites no longer required, if he will arrange for a proportion of the savings made from such amalgamations to be made available to hospital authorities, so as to encourage them to co-operate in amalgamation schemes which would improve the efficiency and productivity of the hospital services.
§ Mr. Harold LeverNo. The present arrangements are based on the general principle, endorsed by the Public Accounts Committee, that the proceeds of sales of publicly owned assets should not be used to support expenditure without specific Parliamentary authority. I see no justification for waiving the principle in this case.