§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from(a) health authorities and (b) health trusts in respect of problems arising from indebtedness; and what extra assistance he is offering in this respect. [40561]
§ Mr. HoramHealth authorities have no power to borrow and thus the issue of their indebtedness does not arise. National health service trusts have powers to borrow to finance capital expenditure. Such borrowing is controlled by the external financing limit—EFL—which they are not permitted to exceed. Reporting of changes in trusts' balance sheet financing and indebtedness and 899W performance against the EFL form part of the year-end requirement to produce audited accounts, which are published.