§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his current policy towards the collection of information by his Department on the number of jobs lost and beds closed as a result of units becoming NHS trusts; and if he will make a statement on his future policy on this matter.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI do not anticipate bed closures and job losses
as a result of units becoming NHS trusts".Both trusts and directly managed units need to fit their staff numbers to the efficient fulfilment of the health care 490W contracts placed on them by health authorities. As in the past, some will doubtless expand in numbers and other contract. We do not routinely collect this kind of data from either NHS trusts or directly managed units. It is the responsibility of NHS trusts to determine the number of staff needed to provide the level of patient care contracted for.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the timetable for the second wave of NHS trusts.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyEach trust application is the subject of public consultation lasting three months. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to be able to announce his decisions on the second wave applications in the autumn. The second wave of trusts will become fully operational in April 1992.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what types of information NHS trusts are expected to include in their business plans to be submitted to the national health service management executive.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyBusiness plans are expected to set out in financial terms how a trust will deliver the services that the purchasers have commissioned from it. The plans contain financial projections covering income and expenditure, assets, source and application of funds, contract and activity analysis, cash flow and capital projects. They also include information on services provided, quality, training and teaching, research and personnel.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date NHS trusts were required to submit their business plans to the NHS management executive; and how many trusts submitted their plans by the date.
§ Mr. WaldegraveNHS trusts were originally asked to submit their business plans to the NHS management executive—NHSME—by 8 March 1991. Although none of the trusts met this deadline they discussed their reasons individually with the NHSME and of the 57 NHS trusts, 53 have now submitted complete business plans and another three partially completed plans.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current value of the net assets of each NHS trust used to calculate the capital element of their contract prices.
§ Mr. DorrellI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 5 February at columns96–97.
§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what range of salaries or other remuneration is paid to chief executives, managing directors and directors of those NHS trusts which operate ambulance services.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe salaries of chief executives and other directors are a matter for the trust board.
§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what commercial operations are now offered or are being proposed by those NHS trusts providing ambulance services other than the conveyance of patients or responding to emergencies.
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§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThese NHS trusts offer a range of services. They are free to supplement their NHS income through additional services as long as they are not to the detriment of their patients and do not interfere with their ability to meet their NHS obligations.