§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of NHS trust hospitals have now been awarded trust status; what percentage of the NHS budget is allocated to NHS trust hospitals; and what percentage of NHS patients are treated by NHS trust hospitals.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThere are 419 operational national health service trusts which represent 95 per cent. of all acute hospitals, community hospitals and units and ambulance services. We estimate that in 1994–95 around 96 per cent. of the revenue available for purchasing hospital and community health services will be spent in NHS trusts. Figures are not available for the percentage of NHS patients treated in NHS trusts for 1993–94.
§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total expenditure by national health service696W trusts, regional and district health authorities and family health services authorities on purchase of health care from non-national health service providers in 1990–91 and 1991–92.
§ Mr. SackvilleExpenditure on purchase of health care from non-national health service providers in 1991–92 is shown in the table. The figure for family health services authorities is that for purchases by general practitioner fundholders of hospital services from private providers. In 1990–91 this category of expenditure was not separately analysed and was not available centrally.
£000s NHS trusts 12,204 Regional health authorities 32,746 District health authorities 159,818 Family health services authorities 3,698 Source: Annual accounts of regional and district health authorities and FHSAs; financial returns of NHS trusts.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was her policy in respect of the requests for repayment of public dividend capital by NHS trusts in each financial year since 1991–92; and how many NHS trusts will be requested to make such payments in respect of each year.
§ Mr. SackvilleLegislation provides that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may, with the consent of Treasury, but need not, accept payments from the national health service trust in discharge of part, but not all, of the public dividend capital. It is not currently policy to require such payments and accordingly no trust has been asked to make one.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy on the return-on-assets targets and returns for NHS trusts; and if these targets include the effect of interest charges.
§ Mr. SackvilleNational health service trusts are required to make a 6 per cent. return on the value of their average net relevant assets. It is calculated as the percentage that a trust's operating surplus, before charging interest, bears to the average relevant net assets for the year.