asked the Minister for Health if he will give the overdraft of each of the area health boards at the latest date for which figures are available; and the total interest paid on overdrafts by each of the health boards in each of the past five years.
Written Answers. - Overdraft of Health Boards.
The combined overdraft level reached by individual boards on 4 December 1986 the latest date for which actual details are available, was £21.7 million which represents less than 3 per cent of the overall health boards direct services allocations for the year.
The following table sets out the position in each individual board.
Health Board |
Original allocation 1986 |
Overdraft 4/12/1986 |
£ million |
£ million |
|
Eastern |
172.625 |
4.0 |
Midland |
52.070 |
1.7 |
Mid-Western |
70.450 |
3.2 |
North Eastern |
51.400 |
nil |
North Western |
66.480 |
1.9 |
South Eastern |
85.550 |
3.9 |
Southern |
129.790 |
4.0 |
Western |
102.780 |
3.0 |
Total |
731.145 |
21.7 |
The Deputy's question on interest paid requires detailed information from individual boards which is not immediately available to my Department. My Department have made arrangements to secure the relevant information as a matter of urgency and I undertake to let the Deputy have a full reply as soon as possible.