§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement about the working party on health service finance's recommendation to reduce assistance to Liverpool Area Health Authority by 7 per cent.
§ Dr. OwenThe Resource Allocation Working Party made no such recommendation. A copy of its First Interim Report was placed in the Library of the House on 13th October last. Allocations to area health authorities are a matter for regional health authorities, and my Department will shortly be issuing guidance on the principles to be followed in the allocation of finance below regional level for 1976–77.