§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if the costs of London area teaching hospitals have been excluded from the normal financing of their health authorities; if the costs of teaching hospitals outside London have been included; and what is the comparative value of this arrangement to the London authorities.
§ Mr. FreemanA contribution to the costs of teaching hospitals is provided in addition to main allocations, to all regional health authorities with teaching hospitals. This contribution is enhanced for the four Thames regions to take account of the costs of London weighting and other additional London costs. The total sum protected in 1989–90 in respect of the excess costs of teaching hospitals was £316.4 million of which £11.7 million was for additional London areas costs.
It is a matter for regional health authorities to decide how to allocate these protected sums to districts with teaching hospitals.