§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects St. Helens and Knowsley health authority to reach its resource allocation working party target; and if he will make it his policy to target the additional resources announced in the autumn statement on those authorities significantly below resource allocation working party target.
§ Mr. MellorIt is a matter for Mersey regional health authority to make decisions about the funding of St. Helens and Knowsley health authority. Regions are expected to base allocations on service plans and not simply apply a formula. RAWP has significantly reduced the disparities between regional health authorities since 1978–79 so that no region is now more than 4 per cent. below its RAWP target. We will be making decisions on regional allocations for 1989–90 shortly.