asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the present regional structure allows for a fair allocation of resources between the London teaching hospitals and other areas particularly in the South-East Thames Region.

The recommendations of the Resource Allocation Working Party were framed in the context of the present regional structure of health authorities. I am satisfied that the present structure allows for a fair allocation of resources within regions on the lines recommended by the working party, which involve judgments about the extent to which changes in the pattern of allocations are practicable from year to year having regard to local circumstances.