§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales in which circumstances a senior officer of a health authority in Wales might fulfil both purchaser and provider roles at the same time.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 7 December at column509.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether it is his policy that the purchaser and provider funding shall be clearly defined and separated within a health authority in Wales.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesDistrict health authorities in Wales are funded to purchase health care for their resident populations. They are expected to plan and monitor this expenditure and at the same time take into account—both in their overall financial plans and their in-year financial management—the provider income and expenditure of their directly-managed units. The outturn income and expenditure of both the purchaser and provider functions are recorded in the health authority's annual accounts.