§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are laid down by her Department concerning the granting of loans to district health authorities by regional health authorities.
§ Mr. SackvilleHealth authorities have no powers to borrow funds. Regional health authorities are responsible for setting allocations to their districts, and may agree to increase a district's allocation in one year on the understanding that a compensating reduction is made in a later year. There are no centrally laid down criteria for such adjustments, since each case must be considered on its merits and account has to be taken of the region's overall priorities and resources.