HC Deb 17 February 1998 vol 306 cc549-50W
Mr. Maples

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the budgetary structure of the primary care groups proposed in his recent White Paper on the NHS. [29063]

Mr. Milburn

The new financial arrangements will promote access to high quality care right across the country by fair distribution of resources through health authorities to inclusive Primary Care Groups. New unified budgets for Primary Care Groups will be established covering hospital and community services, general practitioner prescribing and the general practice infrastructure. This will allow clinicians to better influence the use of resources by aligning clinical and financial responsibilities.