§ Mr. Higginsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that an area health authority making an ex gratia payment as a result of the failure of the National Health Service to provide a bed in an 532W emergency case, when such a payment has been supported by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Health, is reimbursed from central funds.
§ Mr. MoyleArea health authorities are expected to meet the costs of contingencies, including ex gratia payments, from the annual allocations of resources they receive from the regional health authorities. My Department retains no central reserve of funds to meet such costs.