§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will reassess the method chosen to allocate funds to regions and districts in England so as to implement a different method of allocation which reflects more closely the differing health needs of each of those regions and districts; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe principle of funding health authorities in proportion to the number of people for whom they are responsible is well-established. The Department keeps under review the details of the method by which population figures are weighted to allow for differences between populations of the same size. This method rests on a statistical analysis of census and national health service data. The 1991 census will provide the opportunity for reassessment when the results are available in a suitable form in 1993.