asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the overspending by the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham area health authority in the current financial year will affect future allocations to the South-East Thames region in general and the Bromley area health authority, in particular; and if he will make a statement.

Overspending by the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham area health authority (teaching) in the current financial year, under the cash limit rules, will be recovered in the future from that authority and not from other authorities in the same region. No recovery will be made in the 1979–80 financial year from either the AHA(T) or the South-East Thames regional health authority. A decision on the mode of recovery in future years cannot yet be taken.