Hospitals

Mr. Wigley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the gross expenditure for hospital purposes by each of the health and social services boards in Northern Ireland for 1989–90; what is the allocation to each for such purposes for 1990–91; and if he will express all such figures in terms of per capita spending in each board area.

Mr. Needham
The information for 1988–89, the latest year available, is as follows: ----------------
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|Northern Board|
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|Southern Board|
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|Eastern Board |
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|Western Board |
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Information is not held centrally on the amount each board will allocate to hospital services for 1990–91. Allocations to the health and social services boards are made by the Department of Health and Social Services on a block basis and it is a matter for each board to arrange its services, commensurate with regional strategic priorities.