Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the population served by each of the hospital trusts within the Eastern area health and social services board; and what is the capital expenditure proposed for this year and each of the next three years in each hospital trust. [64]
§ Mr. MossUnder the Government's reforms it is the responsibility of purchasers, boards and GP fundholders, to secure services for the population. Trust can provide only services in line with contracts agreed with purchasers. The catchments of hospital trusts are dictated by the combination of contracts agreed with purchasers.
Capital expenditure approved for each trust in the Eastern Board area for 1996–97 is as follows: 257W
General capital £ Major projects £ Belfast city hospital trust 1,376,000 — Down lisburn trust 1,005,000 — Green park trust 171,000 — Mater hospital trust 95,000 — Royal group of hospitals trust 2,064,000 8,236,000 Ulster north down and ards hospital trust 912,000 — My Department aims to maintain a broadly similar level of general capital expenditure in each trust over the next three years. Funding for other major projects will be dependent on the overall level of funding and the outcome of the tests for private finance now required by Government.