§ Mr. KilfedderTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional funding will be allocated for health and social services boards in Northern Ireland for the financial year beginning on 1 April; what is the basis of the calculation on which the allocations are made to the separate boards; and how much will be allocated to the Eastern health and social services board.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIn 1990–91 the health and social services boards will have available to them an extra £55 million. In addition they will have the proceeds of their cost improvement programmes amounting to some £9 million. These resources are being allocated to boards to enable them to cover the forecast level of inflation, to advance services in a number of priority areas and to continue progress towards the regional strategy objectives through their operational plans. The 1990–91 allocations also continue the process of progressive equalisation of resources between boards.
The Eastern health and social services board's allocation for 1990–91 will be £386,804,000. In addition it will receive the major share of some £5.85 million which has been reserved for key developments including regional medical services.