§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now consider implementing the proposals in the Black report on "Inequalities in Health" recommending the establishment of 10 district action programmes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanNo. The funds for such a programme would have to be withheld from the allocations to health authorities. This would not accord with our policy of giving local health management as much freedom as possible to determine local needs and how best to meet them. The distribution of funds to regional health authorities takes account of relative health care needs by applying the principles established by the Resource Allocation Working Party and regional health authorities are expected to apply similar principles in making sub-regional allocations.