§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the proposed level of expenditure allocated to matters concerned with the implementation of the National Health Service reforms articulated in the National Health Service and Community Care Bill in 1990–91.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 19 December 1989]: My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 6 December that the provision for spending on health in Scotland in 1990–91 is planned to increase by £220 million compared with the current year. This will bring the provision to over £3 billion (£3,041 million) for the first time. In accordance with normal practice, allocations to health boards—including recognition of White Paper initiatives—will be determined and notified to boards in the early part of the next year. It will be for boards to decide, in the light of local circumstances, the spending that will be needed to implement the NHS reforms contained in the National Health Service and Community Care Bill. We fully expect that the initial costs will be outweighed in the longer term by improvements in the operation of services and the better management of resources.