§ Mr. Ray Powellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any provision is being made to increase the number of health centres; and what schemes already announced will not be proceeded with.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinWe believe that the balance between heath centre building and other desirable projects needs to be redressed a little and have already told health authorities that they need no longer achieve a minimum spend on health centres from their capital allocations, as required by the previous Administration. We shall be issuing new policy guidance shortly and authorities will be asked to review their health centre programmes in the light of that guidance. It will be for local decision whether particular health centre schemes should proceed. There is no point in proceeding with any particular health centre project unless there is full commitment by the professions for whom it is intended.