§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what effect he expects the current and proposed reductions in funds available for 828W domiciliary care to be likely to have upon the provision of pre-natal care in the United Kingdom in general, and in Leicestershire in particular.
§ Dr. VaughanWhile it is for health authorities to determine what economies are necessary this year to stay within their cash limit and where these should be made, they have been asked to do their utmost to ensure that services to patients are not affected. I understand that Leicestershire area health authority (teaching) has no plans to reduce funds for domiciliary care.
In the recently publishd public expenditure White Paper—Cmnd. 7746—expenditure on the National Health Service in 1980–81 is planned to rise by about 3 per cent. above the latest estimate for spending in the current year. It is for health authorities to allocate resources to the specific services they provide, including services for pre-natal care, in the light of local needs and priorities.