§ 78. Sir C. Osborneasked the Minister of Health if he will revise the system whereby allocation of money to hospitals must be spent in the financial year or lost, which leads to extravagance and wasteful spending; if he will allow unspent balances to be carried forward to the hospital concerned; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BraineNo. My right hon. Friend is constantly seeking, with the hospital authorities, better ways of obtaining value for money and discouraging waste: but the arrangements must comply with the accounting arrangements laid down by Parliament.