§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 28 March, Official Report, column 221–22, how the figures of the financial allocations to the district health authorities within the north-west Thames regional health authority for 1983–84 and 1984–85 work out on a per capita basis;
(2) pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 28 March, Official Report, column 221–22, how the figures of the financial allocations to the district health authorities within the north-west Thames regional health authority for 1983–84 and 1984–85 relate to socio-economic groupings per capita.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe figures I supplied for district health authority allocations would be totally misleading if broken down in this way. A full measure of resources per head of population would have to take account of funds reserved by regional health authorities which are expended in a particular district, the numbers of patients from one district area who are treated in hospitals in another district, the revenue consequences of capital developments and other factors. This full breakdown cannot be supplied from information available centrally but I can, for example, assure the right hon. Member that resources expended in Brent are more than adequate for the health needs of the population if all expenditure is taken into account.