§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much there has been overspending by the family practitioner service; to what extent there will be restricted spending by the hospital services to counter this; and if he is satisfied that patient provision will not be affected.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe estimate of 1983–84 expenditure on the family practitioner services in England has been increased by some £100 million over the previous plan.
The 1983–84 allocations to all cash-limited expenditure programmes have been reduced by 1 per cent. for current spending and 2 per cent. for capital spending to bring total public expenditure closer to plan. For health authorities services the reductions total £96 million.
In reviewing their plans, health authorities have been asked to concentrate on non-patient services and less essential expenditure on goods and services. Health authority and family practitioner services continue to be financed and budgeted for separately. Overall, total expenditure on the NHS is scarely affected by the changes.