To ask the Secretary of State for Health what increase there has been in resources to Wessex regional health authority since 1979.

Total revenue expenditure recorded in the annual accounts of the health authorities comprising the Wessex region increased in cash terms from £223·6 million in 1978–79 to £671 million in 1988–89, representing an increase in real terms of 36·5 per cent. (measured at 1988–89 prices by use of the gross domestic product deflator). The figures exclude expenditure on family practitioner services which is accounted for by family practitioner committees and which cannot strictly be attributed to particular regions.