§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to give further recognition in deciding on allocation of finance to area health authorities in Wales of sparsity of population, impact of tourism, and costs associated with elderly population migration.
§ Mr. GristThe revenue formula, used in determining the revenue resource allocations to district health authorities in Wales, takes account of population sparsity in the ambulance component, which is weighted by road length per head of population. The formula also takes account of the seasonal pattern of activity in accident and emergency services, reflecting the effects of tourism. Each element of the formula is weighted by the age and sex structure of the population and therefore incorporates the effects of the movement of elderly migrants into authorities' areas. A copy of the 1988–89 revenue formula assessment is in the Library of the House.
The formula is kept under review by the joint NHS—Welsh Office resource allocation working group. This group is currently considering the need for and possible means of taking further account of population sparsity in the formula and will be reporting to my right hon. Friend in July.