§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was, in(a) cash terms and (b) percentage terms, the change in NHS funding for the North Essex health authority area in each of the last four financial years and the current financial year. [7078]
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§ Mr. MilburnThe cash and percentage increases in general allocations for North Essex health Authority and the former North Essex District Health Authority are shown as:
Cash £ million Percentage 1993–94 6.7 2.7 1994–95 13.2 5.2 1995–96 18.0 5.7 1996–97 20.0 6.4 1997–98 15.2 4.5
§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if the formula used for allocating funds for the NHS in the North Essex health authority area in 1998–99 will be the same as that used for 1997–98; [7079]
(2) what plans he has to change the formula used for allocating funds for the NHS in the North Essex health authority area; and if he will make a statement. [7080]
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§ Mr. MilburnWe will look at how resources are distributed across both secondary and primary care to ensure that these fully reflect local population needs and operate as fairly as possible.
We are investigating the possibility of introducing further refinements to the weighted capitation formula in time for 1998–99 allocations but a longer programme of work will also be required.