I think, on the whole, it is beginning to get alarmed now, but there is no clean-Cut Crisis or emergency with which it is confronted, and I appeal to the right hon. Gentleman to act in the spirit of the pledges which he gave before the election, to do his best to redeem those pledges; and if he does, he will get the support at any rate of the hon. Members who are acting with me.

With the Crisis of Cuts in public expenditure on our hands and the possibility of certain area health authorities defying the Minister - they have a duty to protect the level of services as well as trying to meet cash limits - it would be a scandal if, during August, September and October, the Secretary of State was not available to stand at the Dispatch Box and answer for the situation.

Will he confirm that he regards that as part of the Cuts Crisis that is swamping his Department, or does he think that it is merely an adjustment?

However, if the Cuts Crisis is to be avoided through precepting, the increase would have to be fairly substantial, in the order of 12 per cent.