§ Mr. Jack ThompsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the additional financial resources being made available to each regional health authority to assist the proposals for opting out;
(2) what additional resources have been made available to the Northern regional health authority to assist their proposals for hospitals and the Northumbria ambulance service to opt out.
§ Mr. FreemanMore than £82 million has been made available this year for the implementation of the White Paper. Of this, £32 million has been allocated to the regions to enable them to develop the finance and personnel functions, to strengthen the public health function and to prepare for the introduction of capital charges and medical audit. Northern region has been allocated £2.04 million. While no additional resources have been made available specifically for the preparation of NHS trusts, all authorities including those with units considering this option will benefit from the overall strengthening of key management functions.