HC Deb 19 March 1981 vol 1 c165W
Mr. Bradford

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in percentage terms and on a pro rata basis the total amount spent on (a) medical services and (b) social services in Northern Ireland compared with the amount spent in Great Britain during the period 6 April 1980 to 6 January 1981.

Mr. John Patten

I regret that information is not available in the form requested and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Bradford

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the £10 million redistributed from the Department of Health and Social Services in the 1980–81 financial year came from the medical services and how much was taken from the social services.

Mr. John Patten

Of the £9.7 million reallocated in 1980–81 from Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland as part of the reallocation and resources designed to help strengthen Northern Ireland's industrial base, some £5.7 million was found by deferring capital projects and the remaining £4 million from revenue budgets. The revenue allocations to the health and social services boards are not specific to particular services and thus each board has been left to determine how to achieve the necessary savings taking into account operational priorities and local circumstances.