HC Deb 24 March 1988 vol 130 cc219-21W
21. Mr. Jim Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration he has given to the draft proposals of the Province's four area health and social services boards for health services provision in 1988–89.

Mr. Needham

It would not be right for me to comment on draft proposals on which boards themselves have not yet taken decisions. Once boards have taken decisions on the proposals, they will be submitting revised operational plans which I shall discuss with chairmen when I hold the accountability reviews.

33. Mr. George Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the chairmen of the four area health and social services boards in Northern Ireland to discuss the future of the health services in the Province; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Needham

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I met the chairmen of the health and social services boards on 9 March 1988. At that meeting we had a full and frank discussion of the immediate problems facing boards and also of the ways in which we might seek to improve financial planning in the longer term. To assist boards to rationalise services and introduce revenue-saving measures and thus ease their current financial problems, I have decided to increase their capital allocations for 1988–89 by £5 million.

37. Mr. Adams

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration he has given to the proposals of the four area health and social services boards to cut services in order to meet Government cash limits.

Mr. Needham

It would not be right for me to comment on draft proposals on which boards themselves have not yet taken decisions.

Once boards have taken decisions on the proposals, they will be submitting revised operational plans which I shall discuss with chairmen when I hold the accountability reviews.

42. Mr. Snape

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had on additional funding for health and social services provision in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Needham

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd).

44. Ms. Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many representations he has received concerning the future of health and social services provision in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Needham

The future of the health and personal social services is an issue of constant debate in Northern Ireland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I continually receive representations, both formal and informal, on this subject.

46. Ms. Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the chairmen of the four area health and social services boards in Northern Ireland to discuss the future of the health services in the Province; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Needham

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I met the chairmen of the health and social services boards on 9 March 1988.

At that meeting we had a full and frank discussion of the immediate problems facing boards and also of the ways in which we might seek to improve financial planning in the longer term. To assist boards to rationalise services and introduce revenue-saving measures and thus ease their current financial problems, I have decided to increase their capital allocations for 1988–89 by £5 million.