HC Deb 14 January 1991 vol 183 cc415-6W
Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria, relating to people with disabilities, will be used in the formula for calculating payments made to social service authorities for services under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

[holding answer 20 December 1990]: A major element of Government grants to local authorities is the revenue support grant, which is distributed using standard spending assessments (SSAs). These take account of each authority's social, demographic and economic characteristics, and the functions for which it is responsible. However, revenue support grant is unhypothecated and it is for local authorities to determine their own priori ties.

Separate components are included in the personal social services SSA for services to people over 65 years old, to children, and to clients aged under 65 including mentally ill, mentally handicapped and physically handicapped people. Details of the criteria involved are given in "Standard Spending Assessments, Background and Underlying Methodology" published by the Department of the Environment in 1990 and available in the Library. When data from the 1991 census become available the use of a new indicator relating to long standing illness or disabilities will be considered.

Mr. John Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which National Health Service trusts he intends to establish; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

[pursuant to his reply, 4 December 1990, c. 77–82]: I am pleased to announce that I have agreed that a further 12 units who have expressed interest in trust status can proceed to work up applications to become trusts on 1 April 1992. This brings the total number of units working on second wave trust status to 123. The 12 units are:

  • Kendal Hospitals Unit
  • Eastbourne Acute Services
  • Parkside Community Services
  • Staffordshire Ambulance Services
  • Waltham Forest Health Services
  • Frenchay Acute and Community Services
  • Southmead Acute and Community Services
  • Royal United Hospital Bath
  • East Berkshire Mental Handicap UE0
  • Dudley Priority Unit
  • Liverpool Community, Mental Illness and Mental Handicap Services
  • Mersey Metropolitan Ambulance Service

Forward to