§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the degree of under-finance to the (a) North-West regional health authority and (b) Mersey regional health authority as established by the resource allocation working party for 1979–80 and 1980–81 under his current spending plans.
§ Dr. VaughanIn 1979–80 the revenue allocations to the North-Western and Mersey regions are 8.8 per cent. and 1 per cent. respectively below target as assessed under the resource allocation working party formula. My right hon. Friend announced in the debate on the report on the Royal Commission on 23 January that the range of increases in real terms for regions in 1980–81 will be between 0.3480W per cent. and 0.6 per cent. Detailed figures have still to be calculated, but in view of the small amount of new resources available, the distances from target are unlikely to change significantly.—[Vol. 977, c. 460–1.]