§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the administrative cost of running each health authority in 1995–96; and if he will give the percentage of the total funds available that represents. [428]
§ Mr. HoramThe provisional 1995–96 annual accounts for health authorities are not expected to be available until the end of November. The information requested will be placed in the Library when it becomes available.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the reasons for not making the administrative costs of health authorities part of the annual review and for not reporting on such costs in the annual review letter. [427]
§ Mr. HoramRegional offices determine the content of annual reviews with their health authorities in the light of the most important current issues locally and nationally. Regional offices would discuss a health authority's performance against its cost target in an annual review. Where warranted by poor performance against these targets, or where meeting the targets has significant repercussions on the provision of services, the matter would be included as an issue in the review letter. Health authority costs are published by the national health service executive annually.