asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision he has made in his plans for the development of health services in Cornwall in the light of the policy of the Greater London Council of settling retired Londoners in Cornwall.

Financial allocations to regional health authorities are determined broadly in line with the recommendations of the resource allocation working party report published in September 1976. The most recent population statistics, which are revised annually, are used and these are weighted for age, sex and other factors. Thus any changes in a region's population in terms of numbers or structure are taken into account in this way. Regional health authorities are expected to adopt similar principles in allocating resources to area health authorities, at the same time having regard to special local circumstances.