§ Mr. EasthamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors were taken into account in making the current year's allocation of funding to Manchester health authority; and if he will make a statement. [26892]
§ Mr. HoramIn 1996–97 we have maintained continuity and stability of funding by ensuring that no health authority lost resources. All health authorities received a cash uplift of 2.73 per cent. for Manchester health authority this meant a cash increase of £6.2 million.
We have also ensured greater equity in resource allocation by using growth principally to move under-target health authorities closer to target. As Manchester health authority was more than 10 per cent. over target it received no allocation for growth in 1996–97.