§ 29. Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received about the level of funding for the North East Thames regional health authority. [5638]
§ Mr. HoramMy hon. Friend the Minister for Health recently met Members of Parliament from south Essex to discuss the level of funding of the South Essex health authority. Since the abolition of regional health authorities on 31 March 1996, national health service funding has been allocated directly to health authorities. In 1997–98, South Essex health authority is to receive £302 million, which is a real terms increase of 2.88 per cent.—the third highest in the country.