§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to make further allocations of expenditure to the National Health Service in 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [13292]
§ Mr. Darling[holding answer 6 November 1997]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has no plans to make further allocations of expenditure to the National Health Service in 1997–98. An extra £300 million for patient care this winter was announced on 14 October 1997, which has been made available by a reallocation of £270 million from other Department's budgets, plus £30 million in new administrative savings identified within the NHS in England.