HC Deb 14 June 1985 vol 80 c589W
Mr. Chapman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet on 6 June. Official Report, column 241, if he will give details of the 1982 boundary changes relating to the individual Thames regional health authority areas and the percentage real increase in revenue expenditure between 1978–79 and 1984–85 in each Thames area notwithstanding the boundary changes.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

In 1982 part of the Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster area health authority in North-West Thames region was transferred to North-East Thames region and included in the district of Bloomsbury. The borough of Spelthorne was transferred from South-West Thames region to North-West Thames region and included in the district of Hounslow and Spelthorne.

In addition to these boundary changes, there was a major restructuring of the boards of governors for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals which had implications for the Thames regions. Bloomsbury district in North-East Thames region now manages the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear hospitals, the Royal National Orthopaedic hospitals and St. Peter's hospitals. West Lambeth district in South-East Thames region now manages St. John's hospital for diseases of the skin. All other former boards of governors hospitals are now special health authorities. The Hammersmith hospital was removed from its local district in North-West Thames region and made an SHA.

The table gives the percentage increase in revenue expenditure in each Thames regional health authority and in the London postgraduate special health authorities between 1978-79 and 1984-85, after taking account of general inflation as measured by the gross domestic product deflator. The figures take no account of the boundary changes and changes in management responsibility I have listed.

Percentage*Real Increase in Revenue Expenditure 1978–79 to 1984–85
Region per cent.
North-West Thames 4.1
North-East Thames 18.8
South-East Thames 9.6
South-West Thames 9.2
Boards of Governors/SHAs 11.3
*Percentages are based on actual revenue expenditure from health authorities' summarised accounts for 1978–79; and on provisional outturn figures for 1984–85.