§ Mr. Beanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the estimated overspending by the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham area health authority (teaching) of £5.5 million will have any effect on the resource assumptions, on the future allocations and the proposed move towards the RAWP allocations for the Kent and East Sussex area health authority for the years 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82.
§ Mr. EnnalsI have instructed the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham area health authority (teaching) to take immediate steps to bring its expenditure under control and to reduce its overspending by £1 million in the current year and to ensure that its expenditure in 1979–80 is held to the 1977–78 level in real terms. Allocations for 1979–80 to other areas within the South-East Thames region will need to take account of the outturn of the region's cash limit for the current financial year and of the resources that I decide to make available to the region for next year. I cannot at this stage predict the outcome. Financial planning assumptions for the years beyond will be reviewed in the light of the funds available to the 341W NHS as a whole and the plans being developed by the regional and area health authorities.