HC Deb 05 July 1977 vol 934 cc477-8W
Mr. Russell Kerr

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for reflecting the effect on health service needs of areas of inner city decay.

Mr. Ennals

Environmental influences on health are reflected in the standardised mortality ratios recommended by the Resource Allocation Working Party as the best available indicator of this aspect of relative health care need. I accept that deprivation in its wider social sense may have an impact for which an additional allowance needs to be made subjectively, but I agree with the working party's view that it is not quantifiable at this stage.