§ Mr. RuffleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what effect the introduction into the capitation formula this year of a needs weighting for(a) services for people with learning disabilities and (b) administration and other hospital services has had on the Government's health spending allocation to the Suffolk Health Authority for 1998–99. [22483]
§ Mr. MilburnThe aim of the weighted capitation formula is to determine health authorities' fair shares of available resources by setting targets. The formula does not directly determine allocations. Allocations reflect our 151W decisions on the speed at which health authorities are brought nearer to target through the distribution of growth.
For 1998–99 the formula has been made fairer by the introduction of two new needs weightings. Relative to other health authorities, the introduction of an administration and other hospital services weighting has reduced Suffolk Health Authority's target share by £2,975,000 (1.14 per cent.); and the introduction of a weighting for people with learning disabilities has reduced Suffolk Health Aurhtority's target share by £3,742,000 (1.44 per cent.).