§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the additional resources that are being made available to the South East Thames regional health authority and the South East Kent health authority in order to finance training and other costs already incurred and likely to occur in connection with ensuring that emergencies and casualties that may arise during the construction and future operation of the Channel tunnel are adequately provided for.
§ Mr. NewtonIn the main the Department does not identify funds for specific purposes. Resource allocations to regions are aimed at securing progress, over time, towards targets which take account of, amongst other things, change in the size and composition of the population served, the relative health care needs of the region and patient flows between regions.
The allocation of resources to districts is a matter for regions. It is for regions and districts to determine, within 243W a national framework of health care priorities, and in the light of local needs and circumstances, how all their resources can best be used.