HC Deb 19 February 1976 vol 905 cc815-6W
Mr. Robin F. Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she will be notifying regional health authorities of their financial allocation for the 1976–77 financial year; and whether she will make a statement.

Mrs. Castle

I have today notified regional health authorities of their capital

ment in the years 1973, 1974 and 1975; and what is the estimate for 1976 broken down into relevant headings.

Mr. Ennals

The following table shows a breakdown of the total spent by my Department, and by the Central Office of Information and Her Majesty's Stationery Office on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on publicity in its widest sense both in this country and overseas for the years 1973–74 and 1974–75, a forecast of expenditure in 1975–76 and the provision sought for 1976–77 subject to parliamentary approval.

and revenue cash allocations for 1976–77. The allocations are based upon the White Paper on Public Expenditure to 1979–80 and on the recommendations of the Resource Allocation Working Party which I set up last year to examine objectively how the marked imbalances in the distribution of health services could be remedied. I have decided to take a major step in 1976–77 in the direction of increasing the level of resources to those regions which are relatively deprived. A detailed explanation of the decisions and their effect is set out in a letter I have today sent to chairmen of regional and area health authorities, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.