§ Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to compensate health authorities for the Budget increase in the standard rate of value added tax.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardI have agreed that in the special case of the health programmes, the additional costs to health authorities should be added to existing provision as a claim against the reserve. This will also apply to comparable expenditure in Scotland and Wales. The increased provision will be granted to the NHS in supplementary estimates for 1991–92 to be presented in due course later in the year.