§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what additional finance she will allocate to regional hospital authorities to enable them to assist area health authorities maintain their services.
§ Dr. OwenSubject to the requirements of general economic policy, additional sums are made available to health authorities as the need arises in the light of experience of prices rises. Two such supplementary allocations have already been notified to regional health authorities in 1974–75 to ensure that services to patients need not be reduced to accommodate increases in prices. I gave some details to the House on 1st November—[Vol. 880 c. 641–2]—during the debate on social policy,—e.g., a 87W further £14.4 million was notified to RHA Treasurers in October and I gave prospect of a further £2.7 million for price increases in September. Additional funds are also allocated to cover the additional cost of increases in staff pay.