§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why Tayside health board has been allocated a budget for 1982–83 which shows no increase in real terms compared with that for 1981–82.
§ Mr. Allan StewartThe annual distribution to health boards of the total sum available for revenue expenditure is determined according to the method recommended in the Scottish health authorities revenue equalisation report (the SHARE formula). Using this formula new resources are distributed to individual boards year by year in such a way as gradually to approach parity of financial allocations in proportion to estimates of relative needs. The effect next year is that Tayside health board will receive an increase over last year's allocation of £5.5 million, which fully reflects the pay and price factors assumed for the purposes of forward planning for the health programme. It is, of course, the best funded board in relation to its estimated needs.