Charles Walker asks the Secretary of State for Health to ensure that the Hertfordshire Partnership Mental Health Trust is not making a disproportionate financial contribution towards meeting Hertfordshire's NHS deficits.

Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the Hertfordshire Partnership Mental Health Trust is not making a disproportionate financial contribution towards meeting Hertfordshire's NHS deficits. [151686]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: The East of England Strategic Health Authority (SHA) has advised that none of the Mental Health Trusts in the East of England were top sliced. The SHA is the headquarters for the national health service locally and has a statutory responsibility to ensure that the health economy achieves financial balance year on year.

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