§ Mrs. WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement on the administrative and travelling expenses incurred as a result of the South East Thames regional health authority's move to Bexhill;
(2) how much money the South East Thames regional health authority spent in rent on empty premises after the authority's move to Bexhill; and why.
§ Mrs. CurrieSouth East Thames regional health authority moved from its rented premises in Croydon to a purchased property in Bexhill. The RHA is required by the terms of its lease to pay rent until such time as the lease is disposed of or runs out.
There has been an intensive marketing exercise to dispose of the remainder of the lease and this is continuing. Further details may be obtained from the chairman of the South East Thames regional health authority.
§ Mrs. WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the reasons for the South East Thames regional health authority's change from resources allocation working party to the ACORN system of funding; and how this will affect the funding of the Maidstone district health authority.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe resource allocation working party (RAWP) formula was developed to determine target allocations of funds to regional health authorities. It is open to regions to modify this approach to take account of local needs and circumstances in setting targets for district health authorities. South East Thames regional authority has refined its application of the RAWP formula by using ACORN (a classification of residential94W neighbourhoods) after consultation with districts. It did so because it considered this provided a more sensitive measurement of relative need for health care including social deprivation.
The overall effect on Maidstone, in cash terms at 1986–87 levels, will be to reduce its growth expectations over the period 1986–87 to 1993–94 from £2.6 million to £880,000, but the regional health authority has agreed to adjust the timing of these changes to assist Maidstone from 1988–89.
§ Mrs. WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money the South East Thames regional health authority has invested in information technology; what were the reasons behind the choice of system; when the system chosen was first marketed; what is its expected life span; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieThis information is not held centrally. The regional health authority operates a number of information technology systems and my hon. Friend may wish to approach its chairman for available information on the money invested and the other details requested.