§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list in the Official Report all the matters to which he has asked health authorities to give priority as embodied in various circulars and directives currently in force.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeExtant guidance requires health authorities to give priority to using resources efficiently and effectively, to improving local services, to abiding by national agreements and the law or to avoiding unnecessary risk to patients or staff. The Government's general policies and priorities for both the health and personal social services are set out in the handbook "Care in Action" which was issued to authorities in 1981. Particular issues to which we have asked health authorities to give priority in their plans this year are set out in circular HC(84)2. Copies of both are in the Library of the House.