§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends devolving to regional health authorities of the National Health Service some of the Department of Health and Social Security's research fund, as recommended in the latest Office of Health Economics publication.
§ Sir George YoungAs the Office of Health Economics document "Health Services Research in England" records,140W responsibility for funds held by the Department for research undertaken locally by health authorities in England was transferred in 1978 to regional health authorities, which can now decide on their own programmes of locally organised research. I do not read the document as recommending the transfer of further health and personal social services research funds from the Department to the field and my right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.