§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how far below its resources allocation working party target Trent regional health authority is; and how many regions are closer to their targets.
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§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Trent regional health authority's revenue allocation in 1983–84 is 5 per cent. below its resource allocation working party—RAWP—target level of resources. Eight of the other 13 regions are closer to their targets although only one is further below target. The RAWP system is, of course, only a guide used by the Government when distributing growth funds between different regions each year. It is a method of comparing the relative funding of the service in different parts of the country and is not a precise measure of a necessary level of spending at any one time.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will provide Trent regional health authority with a special revenue provision to ensure that the current hospital building plans are implemented.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo. I have given the Trent regional health authority £17 million revenue growth money in 1983–84 which is more than for any other region. This means that the region now has a total revenue cash limit of more than £746 million. I am quite satisfied that this should enable the region to make satisfactory progress with opening new capital developments and I know that the RHA is determined to do so.