§ 45. Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representations he has received regarding the operation of the resource allocation working party formula.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Department regularly receives inquiries about the operation of the national resource allocation working party formula.
§ 68. Mr. ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to make changes to the resource allocation working party formula for allocating funds to regional health authorities and to the methods by which regional health authorities allocate moneys to district health authorities.
§ Mr. ClellandTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to review the formula for allocation of funds to National Health Service regions to incorporate particular policies such as community care.
§ Mr. NewtonThe National Health Service management board is currently undertaking a review of the resource allocation working party (RAWP) formula. The programme of analysis and research recommended in the initital report on the review in December 1986 is due for completion by around the end of the year, and a report will follow. The implications of the increasing level of community care were among the issues identified for consideration in the review work programme.
There are established arrangements for monitoring regions' distribution of resources to their districts, through regional long-term strategic plans and annual short-term programmes. Resource distribution may also be discussed in regions' annual accountability reviews with Ministers and the NHS management board.