asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she has yet received a further interim report from the Resources Allocation Working Party, on 1976–77 allocations below the regional level; and if she will make a statement.

The working party has not made a formal interim report to my right hon. Friend on this subject, but it has made its views known to her, and they will be taken into account when the Department comes to formulate guidance to health authorities on the disposition of their allocations for 1976–77. The working party is now studying in more detail the important issue of criteria for allocations below the regional level.