HC Deb 02 November 1976 vol 918 cc546-7W
Mr. Hatton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what would be the capital expenditure necessary in order to bring the health service buildings in the North-West Region up to the average national standard;

(2) what would be the additional revenue costs required to bring the health services in the North-West Region up to the average national standard.

Mr. Moyle

The second report of the Resource Allocation Working Party, set up to review the arrangements for distributing NHS capital and revenue to health authorities in England, was published on 29th September. A copy is in the Library of the House. I am seeking the views of health authorities and other interested bodies before reaching decisions on the recommendations made by the working party for assessing relative health care need in financial terms. Until the criteria to be adopted have been settled, it is not possible to say what redistribution of resources would be needed to achieve any particular step towards equality of provision.