§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will outline the process following the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act whereby a service procurer or purchasing body would apply to the regional health authority for capital funding,; what conditions will determine eligibility for capital funding; and what continuing conditions will attach to such funding should an allocation be made;
(2) if he will outline the process, following implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act, whereby a service provider within a district health authority would make application to the regional health authority for capital funding; what conditions will determine eligibility for capital funding; and what continuing conditions will attach to such funding should an allocation be made.
§ Mr. DorrellImplementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act will not in itself change the means by which capital is allocated to units that remain under the management of district health authorities. Capital will be allocated by regional health authorities to the authority with management responsibility for the service or facility requiring capital investment. In assessing priorities for capital schemes, regions will take account of a range of factors including the needs and priorities of purchasing authorities, and the efficiency and effectiveness of alternative ways of meeting those needs. It will be a requirement of receiving funds that proposed schemes provide evidence that they will attract sufficient purchaser income to cover their revenue costs, including capital charges.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the sources of capital funding that will be available to any hospital trust or any other self-governing trusts; what process of approval such trusts would have to go through following implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act in respect of such capital projects; what conditions will determine eligibility for any public contributions towards such projects; and what continuing conditions will attach to such funding should an allocation be made.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyCapital spending by national health service trusts will be funded from internally generated resources or by borrowing from the Government or private sector. Spending will need to be contained within external financing limits which will be set annually for each trust. Trusts will set out their proposals for capital spending in their annual business plans which will be discussed with the Department. In the case of major projects, they will be required to submit plans to the Department for approval in principle.