Health and Social Services Boards

HC Deb 17 December 1992 vol 216 cc387-8W

Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount raised by each health and social services board through the(a) sale and (b) rental of land, property or facilities, in each of the past two years; and what proportion of these amounts were (i) retained by each board for the provision of health and social services and (ii) retained by the DHSS management executive.

Mr. Hanley

The total amount realised from the disposal of property in each of the last two financial years was as follows:

Financial Year	Eastern Board £	Southern Board £	Northern Board £	Western Board £
1990–91	3,459,770	508,750	137,400	6,900
1991–92	639,475	70,600	13,000	221,550

Details of income received by health and social services boards from rentals of land, property or facilities is not held centrally but all such income is retained by boards.

In 1990–91, all moneys raised from the disposal of property were retained by boards, with the exception of some late receipts amounting to £180,000.

In 1991–1992, moneys raised from disposals were reallocated by the Secretary of State to meet financial pressures on Northern Ireland Departments, including increased expenditure on the family health services.

Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure that all proceeds of the sale or rental of land, property or facilities by each health and social services board will be retained by that board for the provision of health and social services; and if he will return to the boards any such sums currently retained by the DHSS management executive.

Mr. Hanley

No. It must always remain open to the Secretary of State to decide how receipts should be used. In planning the level of public expenditure, including expenditure on health and personal social services, the Secretary of State takes into account anticipated receipts from sales of land or property. The DHSS management executive has reallocated the receipts for the current financial year to meet a number of high priority pressures within the health and personal social services.