To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) of 20 March 2006, Official Report, column 175W, on section 64, when the central budget review will be completed. (63119)

The central budget review for 2006-07 was completed at the end of April 2006. Final central budget allocations were issued to directors at the start of June. The allocations have been subject to minor reductions to cover a small number of pressures that were considered inescapable.