HC Deb 11 July 1977 vol 935 cc36-7W
Sir George Young

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will instruct regional health authorities not to reallocate funds between areas until the implications of such proposals on patient services and teaching needs have been assessed.

Mr. Ennals

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hounslow, Feltham and Heston (Mr. Kerr) on 5th July—[Vol. 934, c. 478.]

Sir George Young

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Report of the Resource Allocation Working Party.

Mr. Ennals

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Ovenden) on 21st June—[Vol. 933, c. 405.]

Sir George Young

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether provision will be made in the Resource Allocation Working Party formula in future years for the effect on health service needs of inner cities areas of decay and high immigrant population.

Mr. Ennals

Environmental and demographic influences on health are reflected in the standardised mortality ratios recommended by the Resource Allocation Working Party as the best available indicator of these aspects of relative health care need I accept that deprivation in its wider social sense may have an impact for which an additional allowance needs to be made subjectively, but I agree with the working party's view that it is not quantifiable at this stage.

Mr. Kimball

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of his stated intention to achieve a fairer distribution of resources in the eight health regions in England, he will give an undertaking to redress the disadvantages of the Trent Authority in the next financial year.

Mr. Ennals

As I made clear in my Press statement of 21st December 1976, a copy of which is in the Library, while the present low rate of increase from year to year in the resources available nationally for the hospital and community health services continues, rapid equalisation of resources between the health regions in England is not practicable. But I shall continue in 1978–79 the steady process of redistribution in favour of the regions hitherto least well provided.

In the current year the Trent Regional Health Authority received an increase of almost 3 per cent. in real terms, approximately twice the national average.