§ Mr. Tom ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to provide for an element of direct central funding of teaching hospitals.
§ Mr. NewtonThe additional service costs associated with providing teaching facilities are already protected through the service increment for teaching (SIFT) which is distributed in relation to the numbers of medical students in each region.
247WSIFT along with other aspects of the resource allocation working party (RAWP) formula is currently under review. Any recommendations which may emerge will be carefully considered.