§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis he will set the annual financing limit for each national health service hospital trust.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyMy right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State will set the external financing limit for each trust annually in the light of the trust's business plan and available resources.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the target number of national health service trusts to be developed for ministerial approval set by the national health service management executive in its 1990–91 operational programme.
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§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe NHS management executive has indicated that it aims to develop for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State's approval approximately 50 NHS trusts. There is no firm target and some 80 Health Service units currently intend to prepare applications for NHS trust status in April 1991, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary legislation.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the financial proformas to be submitted by national health service trust status applicants.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyNo. The supporting financial statements to be submitted by applicants for NHS trust status will include detailed information on their financial plans which it would not be appropriate to make publicly available.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those potential first-wave trusts identified by the Department's analysis of regions short-term programmes as having problems eliminating underlying deficits in 1990–91.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyNo. The NHS management executive is engaged in continuing discussions with regional health authorities. Such information is not yet available.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to employ outside consultants to evaluate national health service trust applications.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyOutside consultants will assist the Department in the analysis of financial management and information systems in potential NHS trusts as part of the assessment of trust applications when the necessary legislation has been passed.