HC Deb 16 July 1997 vol 298 cc205-7W
16. Mr. Denzil Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the(a) total business from the Welsh Office and (b) the total financial deficits of all health authorities in Wales at the latest available date. [7010]

Mr. Win Griffiths

The Welsh Office provides funding to health authorities to purchase health care for their resident population. In 1996–97, the revenue funding provided by the Welsh Office to the five health authorities in Wales totalled £2,134 million.

The unaudited accounts for 1996–97, presently indicate that the in-year financial deficit in income and expenditure terms for the five health authorities for their first year of operation was £5.255 million.

Mr. Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors his Department applies to adjust the crude population share of health authorities in Wales when determining their funding needs. [8412]

Mr. Griffiths

The factors included in the capitation model to adjust the crude population share are as followsNon-psychiatric in-patient services: age and sex structure of population weighted for hospital bed days, Standardised Mortality Ratio; Psychiatric in-patient services: age and sex structure of population weighted for average length of hospital stay; Non-psychiatric outpatient services: age and sex structure of population weighted for hospital attendances, Standardised Mortality Ratio; Community health services: age and sex structure of population weighted for staff contacts, estimated staff travelling distances, Standardised Mortality Ratio; and Ambulance services: age and sex structure of population, Standardised Mortality Ratio; road length per head of population.

Mr. Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what would have been the total amount which the Dyfed-Powys health authority could have expected to have received from the Welsh Office for the year 1997–98 by way of discretionary expenditure on the basis of a crude population share. [8433]

Mr. Griffiths

On the basis of a crude population share of the total 1997–98 Recurrent Discretionary Allocation made to health authorities, Dyfed Powys would have received £223.6 million.

Mr. Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the names of the working party set up in his Department to review the methodology in respect of the distribution of resources to health authorities; and when he expects the review to be completed. [8546]

Mr. Griffiths

The membership of the Resources Allocation Working Group is as follows:

  • Mr. A. C. Wood: Health Finance Management Division
  • Mr. R. T. Kilpatrick: Health Finance Management Division
  • Miss B. Jones: Health Finance Management Division
  • Dr. B. Fuge: Health Professional Group
  • Mr. D. Hobbs: Health Strategy Division
  • Ms C. Durnell: Economic Advice Division
  • Mr. R. Jones: Health Statistics and Analysis Unit
  • Mr. M. Evans: Bro Taf Health Authority
  • Mrs. J. Sait: Dyfed Powys Health Authority
  • Mr. G. Coomber: Gwent Health Authority
  • Dr. P. Donnelly: Iechyd Morgannwg Health Authority
  • Mr. N. Morris: North Wales Health Authority
  • Mr. P. Davies: University of Wales Healthcare NHS Trust
  • Dr. N. Upton: Gowerton Medical Centre, Swansea
  • Mrs. C. Theobald: North East Wales Community Health Council

I expect the group to report later this year and, if possible, to feed the results into the 1998–99 health authority allocation round.

29. Mr. Rowlands

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the current financial position of health authorities in Wales. [7023]

Mr. Griffiths

I shall expect all authorities to remain within their notified cash limits.