§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations his Department has received from the Rochdale area concerning the recom- 494W mendations of the Resource Allocation Working Party; and when he expects to be in a position to make a statement on the implementation of its recommendations.
§ Mr. MoyleNone directly. My right hon. Friend has received from my hon. Friend the Member for Middleton a copy of a letter from the Rochdale Area Health Authority which welcomes the report of the Resource Allocation Working Party and urges that its recommendations be implemented as quickly as possible.
We shall be taking decisions on the methods to be adopted in making financial allocations to health authorities for 1977–78 later this year. Before reaching these decisions both the 1977–78 and for the longer term we will consider the comments of health authorities and other interested bodies who have been consulted on the recommendations of the working party.