§ Mr. Denzil DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the aggregate net deficit of the Welsh
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Proposed trust Unitary authority areas served Population (mid 1996) Total estimated expenditure1£000 Conwy and Denbighshire Conwy/Denbighshire 202,800 106,432 North East Wales Flintshire/Wrexham 268,200 101,379 North West Wales Gwynedd/Isle of Anglesey 184,800 115,295 Carmarthen Carmarthenshire 169,100 81,363 Canolbarth Cymru Ceredigion/Powys 194,000 72,573 Bro Morgannwg Neath Port Talbot/Bridgend 269,500 161,101 Swansea Swansea 230,200 173,294 Pontypridd and Rhondda Rhondda Cynon Taf (Part) 2240,100 86,130 South Bro Taf Community Cardiff/Vale of Glamorgan 434,400 75,548 health authorities and hospital trusts on 31 March; and what estimate he has made of the likely aggregate net deficit on 31 March 1999. [51232]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsThe net deficit of the Welsh health bodies for 31 March 1998 and forecast position for 31 March 1999 is as follows:
£ million Cumulative position as at 31 March 1997 1,2Deficit 1997–98 3Forecast deficits 1998–99 Health authorities (14) (10) (12) NHS trusts 1 (9) (23) 11997–98 Unaudited Annual accounts of health authorities and NHS trusts in Wales. These figures should be treated as provisional 2Health Authorities are not under a duty to remain in balance in income and expenditure terms but must remain within their cash limit. No health authority breached its cash limit in 1997–98 3Figures are estimates provided by health authorities and NHS trusts in Wales The 26 trusts are forecasting a total end of year deficit of £23 million in their financial returns for May 1998. The prospective health authority deficits for the current year are subject to review but may be in the region of £12 million. These forecasts are, in some instances, prior to formal contracts having been signed between the trusts and their main commissioners for 1998–99. Additionally, these estimates are before any financial support which may be offered by the Welsh Office has been taken into account.