§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation has made with regard to its review of the Your NHS Funding Formula. [75140]
§ Mr. HuttonThe advisory committee on resource allocation's (ACRA) terms of reference are to advise the Secretary of State for Health on the distribution of resources across primary and secondary care. ACRA is an expert body whose membership is made up of individuals with a wide range of relevant experience and expertise from within and outside the National Health Service. ACRA does not conduct formal consultations.
§ Mr. WattsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the new funding formula will take into account the number of people who have private medicine when assessing need; [74956]
(2) if he will make a statement on the reform of the funding system for the NHS and the options, method of consultation and timetable for the review; and whether the review will take into account the number of people who have access to private medical treatment. [76277]
§ Mr. HuttonThe existing formula used to allocate National Health Service resources has been reviewed by the advisory committee on resource allocation (ACRA). The intention is that reducing health inequalities will be a key criterion for allocating NHS resources to different parts of the country. We are currently considering ACRA's recommendations. ACRA does not conduct formal consultations. I cannot at this stage anticipate the outcome. Later this autumn when we announce the revenue allocations for the next three years we will explain changes to the formula.