§ Mr. Strawasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) pursuant to his answer, Official Report, column 139, 9 February, if he will list in detail those of the auditor's criticisms of the development experiment of computer systems by the North Western regional health authority which have not been met by the authority's response;
(2) in respect of which specific point he has asked the North Western regional health authority to reconsider its responses in relation to tendering and contract procedure; and when this request was made;
(3) in respect of the development and procurement of computer systems by the North Western regional health authority, whether the auditor's report has been published and what other documents relating to this matter have 505W been made available to the public; and if he will arrange for all such documents including the auditor's report to be placed in the Library.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe auditor's report and the regional health authority's response were considered in public session at the authority's meeting on 27 May 1986, and I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library. 'The Department's comments on this response were contained in a letter sent to the authority on 19 September 1986, to which it has assured us that it will be replying very shortly. I will let the hon. Member have a further reply when these matters have been resolved.
§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish any guidelines given to the North Western regional health authority for priorities in allocating the extra £1.2 million made available.
§ Mr. NewtonNorth Western regional health authority, in common with other recipients of this special funding, is expected to allocate the sum made available in 1987–88 to ease the process of planned changes and for projects which will release resources for the future.
The special fund is transitional, for two years only, and all projects should therefore be of limited duration. The fund may be used for revenue or capital projects.
Guidelines on this special fund were issued to regions on 19 January, 1987 and a copy is in the Library.
§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the £1.2 million extra funding for the North Western, regional health authority.
§ Mr. NewtonThe £15 million special fund made available in 1987–88 to regions receiving lowest growth rates under RAWP is intended to help those regions cope with the transitional costs of improving services both for priority groups and outside the main cities, without damaging inner city services or medical teaching. The £1.2 million extra funding for North Western regional health authority is from this special fund.