HC Deb 28 April 1994 vol 242 cc302-3W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what allocations were made to local authorities in the northern region for AIDS support in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; and what was the basis of allocation to such authorities in each of those years.

Mr. Sackville

For 1993–94 AIDS support grant allocations were made on the basis of open-ended bids submitted by local authorities. Local authorities not receiving AIDS support grant were given money under the health alliances scheme for HIV prevention and joint working with health authorities.

For 1994–95 local authorities were invited to submit expenditure plans against indicative allocations of both AIDS support grant and healthy alliances moneys. These allocations were based on confidential information available for the first time and supplied to the Department by the Public Health Laboratory Service on the distribution of AIDS cases by local authority area. Where this formula would mean a reduction in grant in 1994–95, local authorities were advised that there might, in exceptional circumstances, be some scope to adjust allocations on a transitional basis and that applications for additional grant could be made. We hope to issue letters confirming final allocations shortly.

The information requested for the northern region is shown in the table. The figures in brackets relate to allocations under the healthy alliance scheme.

1993–94 Allocation 1994–95 Indicative allocation
Authority AIDS support grant £ Healthy alliances AIDS support grant £ Healthy alliances
Cleveland 0 (56,000) 27,000 (5,000)
Cumbria 0 (31,000) 10,000 (2,000)
Durham 0 (44,000) 2,000 (6,000)
Gateshead 0 (30,000) 10,000 (2,000)
Newcastle 223,000 (0) 86,000 (64,000)
Northumberland 0 (25,000) 15,000 (3,000)
North Tyneside 0 (54,000) 15,000 (3,000)
South Tyneside 0 (45,000) 15,000 (3,000)
Sunderland 0 (48,000) 10,000 (2,000)