§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the effect of the financial deficit of the former Powys health authority on the current and future financial circumstances of the Dyfed Powys health authority. [19239]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe allocation of funds to the newly constituted Dyfed Powys health authority was based on the population of the new authority. Any over-commitments by the former authorities have to be managed within the resources allocated. This is the responsibility of the new authority.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed closure of eight community hospitals in the Dyfed Powys health authority area. [19233]
§ Mr. JonesNone. My right hon. Friend awaits the outcome of the authority's public consultation, which is due to end on 30 April.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the financial position of each of the eight NHS trusts in the Dyfed Powys health authority area at the end of the financial years(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99. [19237]
§ Mr. JonesThere are six NHS trusts which provide hospital and community health care and whose main commissioner is Dyfed Powys health authority. In addition, services provided by the West Wales ambulance trust and South and East Wales ambulance trust are also used by the authority. The financial position for future years is dependent on contracting arrangements between the trusts and the health authority and therefore figures for 1997–98 or 1998–99 are unavailable. The forecast outturn position estimated by each NHS trust for 1996–97 is as follows:
Trust Latest forecast £ million surplus (deficit) Carmarthen (0.270) Ceredigion (0.150) Derwen 0.040 Llanelli 0.000 Pembroke 0.026 Powys 0.098 West Wales ambulance trust 0.172 South-east Wales ambulance trust (0.326)
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what meetings his Department has had with the Dyfed46W Powys health authority to discuss its current consultative strategy document. [19236]
§ Mr. JonesMy officials have had a number of meetings with representatives of the Dyfed Powys health authority, at some of which the authority's consultative strategy document was discussed.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the Dyfed Powys health authority on its funding needs over the next five years. [19238]
§ Mr. JonesMy right hon. Friend and I have had no formal representations about the authority's funding needs for the next five years. Officials are in touch with the authority about the cash position in the current year and will continue to monitor the position.