§ 28. Mr. Easthamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement on the progress made in implementing the Black report on inequalities in health.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe have never undertaken to implement the recommendations of the Black report. However, many of them are consistent with the policies and priorities for the health and social services we are following, particularly in the fairer distribution of NHS resources to previously relatively deprived Regions such as the north-west. Some recommendations, particularly those on the social security system, would involve expenditure on a scale which could not seriously be contemplated.