§ 50. Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will now instruct regional health authorities to ensure a more even distribution of financial resources between area health authorities.
§ Mrs. CastleI have already asked regional health authorities to observe as far as possible, in determining their allocations to area health authorities for 1976–77, the principles I have followed in distributing resources to regions, having regard to relative deprivation. I expect to receive in the middle of this year advice from the Resource Allocation Working Party on matters which it is further considering, including factors which they conclude should be taken into account in the distribution of resources to area health authorities in subsequent years.