§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the present financial cutbacks being imposed on each of the area health authorities that cover the Greater London Council area.
§ Dr. VaughanThis Government have not imposed any cuts in allocations to health authorities this year, but all 309W authorities are having to make economies because of the inadequate cash limits set by our predecessors. We have indeed increased allocations to health authorities in England by over £250 million to make good some two-thirds of the deficiencies. The situation facing some London areas is, however, exacerbated by the need to bring under control previous overspending. The effects of the squeeze on individual areas and the measures needed to meet it can only be determined locally. Reliable and comprehensive information on an area basis is not held centrally.