§ Mr. Tim Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the recommendation of the National Health Service Resource Allocation Working Party that there should be a gradual equalisation of financial resources throughout the regional health authorities, the area health authorities and the districts by basing allocations upon populations served, adjusted to take account of various significant factors, will be implemented.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe policy of fairer distribution to which the Government are committed was set in motion in 1976–77 on the basis of interim recommendations from the Resource Allocation Working Party and has been continued in the allocations for 1977–78 broadly upon the principles proposed in its second report. While some limited redistribution will generally be possible, I recognise that there are circumstances in some places which will make it impracticable this year.