HC Deb 14 June 1994 vol 244 cc548-9W
Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cash allocation for health authorities discretionary use in each year since 1988–89, including 1994–95; and what was the percentage change in each year.

Mr. Gwilym Jones

The overall level of cash increases for hospital and community health services including the provision to health authorities is as follows:

Overall cash increase over previous year £ million Percentage revenue cash increase over previous year Per cent. Revenue cash increase for health authorities? discretionary use £ million Percentage revenue cash increases for health authorities Per cent.
1992–93 102.3 9.1 79.0 7.0
1993–94 46.5 3.7 29.0 2.2
1994–95 53.0 4.3 234.9 2.8
1 Net of estimated saving of £16.3 million from the reduction in the rate of employers' superannuation contributions from 7.5 per cent. to 4 per cent. This sum, although not additional to the overall level of resources available for hospital and community health service in 1989–90 was redistributed to health authorities as additional cash resources for their discretionary use.
2 Includes £1 million transferred from the resources previously allocated to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority.

The difference between the overall level of the cash increases and that provided to health authorities for their discretionary use represents the amount of money that has been earmarked each year for development in specific services from which health authorities derive benefit and which is allocated to health authorities during the financial year.