§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Social Services if she will take steps to ensure that the Wessex Region Health Authority has sufficient funds to maintain its current standard of health services to the public, in view of its chairman's statement that a further £3.5 million is required to prevent such services having to be cut back through lack of funds; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenThe hon. Member will be aware that my right hon. Friend has recently announced that a further £40 million of revenue funds will be made available to regional health authorities in England this year. Also that, since it is not the Government's intention that services to patients should be reduced in order to accommodate increases in prices, further supplementary allocations will, subject to the requirements of general economic policy, be made as the need arises in the light of experience of price increases.
I do not know yet how much of the £40 million will be allocated to Wessex Regional Health Authority but this should be settled and announced to the authority shortly.