§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines have been issued to regional health authorities in assessing the business plans of National Health Service opt-out trusts and in particular on whether such trusts will be expected to shoulder their share of health authorities' deficits in the form of loans or other short-term finance from regional health authorities.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleySubject to the passage of the necessary legislation. It will be for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State to assess applications including business plans submitted by applicants for NHS trust status—on an individual basis in the light of local circumstances.