§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what means his Department seeks to control the spending of local health authorities; and how instructions for their spending are determined.
§ Dr. OwenHealth authorities in England determine their spending within 161W the limits of annual allocations issued by my Department and subject to general guidance on priorities and specific control on major capital schemes and on expenditure on particular development and priority services. Expenditure is monitored on the basis of periodic returns. It will increasingly be set within the framework of the comprehensive system of planning within national guidelines which we are developing.