Dr. Reginald Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she will announce the share of extra moneys falling to each regional hospital board, and especially to the Wessex Regional Hospital Board; and how she intends to finance the operating losses now being sustained.
§ Dr. OwenI am not yet in a position to say how much of the £40 million revenue funds made available for health authorities in England in 1974–75 will be allocated to the Wessex Regional Health Authority, but discussions with representatives of regional health authorities are arranged for this week and I hope to advise authorities shortly. Since it is not 183W the Government's intention that services to patients should be reduced in order to accommodate increases in prices, further supplementary allocations will, subject to the requirements of general economic policy, be made as the need arises in the light of experience of price increases.