§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the reasons for her decision that there will be no increase for inflation for voluntary organisations seeking renewal of their grant; whether this is an immutable ruling; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleI have been asked to reply.
As part of our review of funding to voluntary organisations under the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 we have been looking at what steps we might take to ensure that the section 64 general scheme budget can be used to benefit a wider range of organisations than has previously been possible. Core funding towards headquarters and administrative expenses currently accounts for approximately 80 per cent. of the expenditure, much of which has been provided on a long-term basis.
We have decided that in future all core grants will be brought into line with those awarded after April 1990 and will not normally be renewed for more than a maximum of five years. Existing arrangements provide that core grants may be renewed in certain circumstances and our annual guidance in August restated previous policy that any 841W renewal awards would not normally include an increase for inflation. In considering any renewal application we will take into account all relevant factors, but the presumption will be that there will not be an automatic increase for inflation. This will enable us to make available a larger proportion of funding for new applicants for core or project grants and to give more to those organisations less able to raise funds from other sources.
Doncaster district health authority Average daily number of available beds Annual 1990–91 and 1991–92 Ward classification 1990–91 1991–921 Code Wards open overnight Wards open day only Total Wards open overnight Wards open day only Total General patients Children Normal 1 54 0 54 59 0 59 Limited 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Elderly Normal 3 283 0 283 278 0 278 Limited 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 Other ages Intensive 5 24 0 24 25 0 25 Normal 6 625 14 638 623 12 635 Limited 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 Younger physically disabled Spinal unit 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 Other 9 18 0 18 18 0 18 Neonatal Flag designated intensive 10 24 0 24 24 0 24 Non-maternity 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 Maternity 12 60 0 60 60 0 60 Maternity Consultants 13 98 0 98 82 0 82 Mixed 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 GP 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mental illness Children Short stay 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 Long stay 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 Elderly Short stay 18 21 0 21 14 0 14 Long stay 19 104 0 104 86 0 86 Other ages Secure unit 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 Short stay 21 76 0 76 80 0 80 Long stay 22 83 0 83 119 0 119 Mental handicap Children Short stay 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 Long stay 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 Other ages Short stay 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 Long stay 26 165 0 165 156 0 156 Total 27 1,635 14 1,648 1,629 12 1,641 1 Provisional. Source:KMO3.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the number of out-patients treated at Doncaster hospitals by category, for the latest date for which she has figures available; and what was the figure(a) six months and (b) 12 months ago.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe information requested for 1990–91, the latest available centrally, and for 1989–90, is contained in the Department of Health annual publication, "Outpatients and Ward Attenders". Copies are in the Library.