§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what response he will make to the hospital junior staff committee proposal for increased funding for the National Health Service over the next three years to maintain resources at their present level.
§ Mr. John PattenWe are in correspondence with the hospital junior staff committee about its views on NHS expenditure. As we shall point out, the Government's spending plans for 1985–86 and 1986–87 set out in this year's public expenditure White Paper imply growth in resources of 1 per cent. in each year for the hospital and community health services. In addition, health authorities are being asked to make further substantial improvements in services through implementation of cost improvement programmes. In 1984–85 alone authorities have already identified savings of about £100 million, which is about 1 per cent. of their total revenue resources.