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Health Authorities (Expenditure)

Volume 958: debated on Monday 13 November 1978

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asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is satisfied with the liaison between the South-East Thames regional health authority and the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham area health authority (teaching) with a view to the 1978–79 financial allocation as detailed in his Written Answer of 22nd May;(2) in the light of the fact that the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham area health authority (teaching) estimates that it will overspend by £5·5 million in the period 1978–79, if he is satisfied that its administrative cost of the supplementary benefit scheme.

Revised data for 1975–76 and new data for the later years are given below:

Administrative cost of supplementary benefit scheme £millianAdministrative cost as a percentage of benefit paid per cent
1975–76180·813·4
1976–77221·612·5
1977–78 (provisional)260·012·1

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update the answer given to the hon. Member for Merioneth,Official Report, 24th July 1975, columns 243-4, on the annual, national and regional expenditure per head on supplementary benefit.

The latest available information in the form requested relates to 1977–78, when the regional breakdown of expenditure is estimated to have been as follows:monitoring policy outlined in Written Answer of Tuesday 23rd May is sufficient; and if he is considering introducing more effective means of monitoring procedures to prevent future overspending;(3) if the estimated overspending of £5·5 million by the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham area health authority (teaching) will have any effect on the planned increased expenditure for the Kent area health authority for 1978–79.

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price on 5th July 1978 and to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Ovenden) on 10th July 1978.—[Vol. 953, c. 226–7; Vol. 953, c.444–5.] I have called for two reports concerning Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham area health authority (teaching) in the light of which I shall review the position. I have made it clear that allocations for 1978–79 to other areas in the South-East Thames region should not be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that his policy whereby once an allocation has finally been made by a regional health authority after full consultation with its areas, this must then be accepted by the area health authority and its services adjusted accordingly, is being adhered to.

As part of the Government's control of public expenditure, all health authorities must control their expenditure within the cash limits notified to them by the appropriate higher authority. I am satisfied that this policy is being followed; where there are indications to the contrary appropriate action is taken.