§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the net projected savings made by health authorities in Wales in the current financial year.
§ Mr. GristThe most recent estimates provided by health authorities suggest that the level of savings which they will collectively achieve from their cash-releasing cost improvement programmes this year will be £8.5 million. This is equivalent to 0.9 per cent. of their recurrent revenue allocations notified at the start of 1990–91 and is slightly below the minimum target of 1.1 per cent. of recurrent revenue resources which has been set for cash-releasing cost improvement savings this year. While authorities may count non-recurrent cost improvements such as capital receipts against this target, those doing so will have the recurrent shortfall added to the minimum target for cost improvement savings to be set for 1991–92.