§ Mr. Beanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to monitor the spending of health districts and areas, in order to see that the budgets conform to the regional allocation.
§ Mr. MoyleThe overall spending of the National Health Service is monitored by my Department, but my right hon. Friend has delegated to regional health authorities responsibility for monitoring spending by area health authorities. They in turn are accountable for the spending by health districts.
Regional and area health authorities have to submit to the Department profiles forecasting the incidence of their revenue and capital spending for the financial year. The profiles of area health authorities are also submitted to regional health authorities which are responsible for ensuring that the cash limited allocations of areas are not exceeded.
Cash funding of regional and area health authorities is made directly, on a daily basis, by the Department. To assist regional health authorities in their financial control, during the last four months of the financial year they are notified of all requisitions for cash made by the area health authorities.