§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that the decision to make health authorities find a further £6 million to pay for the doctors' pay rise will not lead to a reduction in National Health Service services.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe doctors' and dentists' pay award is expected to cost some £18 million in excess of the provision contained in the cash limits of health authorities in England. Health authorities will be required to find some £5 million of this extra cost, in addition to their contribution of £22 million towards the cost of the pay offers to certain groups of NHS staff which I announced on 8 March. Most health authorities should be able to offset these amounts by further efficiency savings.