asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what resources she has allocated for the construction of new health centres in Leicestershire during the financial year 1975–76; and how this compares with 1974–75, on a constant price basis.

In Leicestershire at 1974 price levels the building costs of health centres approved for start subject to the receipt of satisfactory tenders in 1974–75 and 1975–76 were £228,400 and £567,000 respectively. This reflects not only the Government's determination, in spite of economic restraint, to increase the health centre building programme, but also a determination to use this increased allocation selectively, positively, discriminating in favour of areas of high health need.