HC Deb 16 March 1995 vol 256 cc703-4W
Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the total amount of savings made by fundholders in the last three years.

Mr. Malone

I refer the right hon. Member to the replies I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 24 November 1994, columns321-22 and on 14 March, column 545.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will give the aggregate level of savings by fundholding general practitioners in each family health service authority for the years 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the number of general practitioner fundholding practices and the amount of savings(a) by family health service authority and (b) in total for (i) 1991–92, (ii) 1992–93 and (iii) 1993–94.

Mr. Malone

[holding answer 24 February 1995]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan) on 15 March for information on the number of general practitioner fundholding practices.

I refer the right hon. and hon. Members, to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 24 November 1994, columns 321-22 which provides information on fundholder savings at regional health authority level in 1991–92 and 1992–93. Information on fundholder savings at family health services authority level for these years is not available centrally.

The requested information on fundholder savings for 1993–94 will be placed in the Library. Nationally, retained savings in 1993–94 equalled £64.2 million, about 3.5 per cent. of budgets set—similar to the levels of efficiency savings made by fundholders in the first two years of the scheme.

Savings may be spent only after external audit of the fundholding account by the Audit Commission. Fundholder savings are held by FHSAs on behalf of the patients of fundholders and may be retained for up to four years. With the agreement of the regional health authority, savings may be used for the benefit of patients of the practice as outlined in the practice's annual business plan.