§ Mr. Robert Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what funds have been made available during the current financial year to the Croydon area health authority; how this figure compares with the previous 12 months; what amount the increase represents in real terms; and what percentage allowance has been put in to cover inflation of costs.
§ Dr. VaughanMy right hon. Friend is responsible for allocations to regional health authorities, but allocations to area health authorities are made by the region concerned—in the case of Croydon area health authority, the South-West Thames 47W regional health authority. My hon. Friend may therefore care to seek information about the area health authority's allocations from the regional health authority. The cash limit on the region's revenue allocation for 1979–80 contained provision of 7.9 per cent. for price inflation from November 1978. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made clear in his Budget Statement, the Government do not intend to increase cash limits to allow for the effects of higher inflation. However, health authorities' cash limits, with the exception of the first £23.4 million, will be adjusted for the excess cost of pay awards.