§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice or instructions she has given to regional health authorities about the timescale within which they should move to funding districts by weighted capitation.
§ Mr. SackvilleRegional health authorities (RHAs) are responsible for revenue allocations to health districts, and for managing their movement towards weighted capitation funding in a way which ensure that services to patients are not disrupted. There is no national deadline, but Ministers continue to attach importance to continued progress towards resource equalisation at district level. The following guidance was sent to all RHAs in circular FDL(92) 113, on 4 December 1992
Regions will therefore be asked to report on their planned deployment of the 1993–94 allocation and in particular to demonstrate clear progress towards equalisation. The pace of such progress and whether it should be achieved by reducing resources allocated to districts above their capitation share is a matter for individual regions to judge in the light of local circumstances.Copies of the circular are available in the Library.