HC Deb 21 April 1998 vol 310 cc579-80W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the representations made by the Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority in their report, "The River Runs Dry", concerning the impact of the current capitation formula on the allocation for 1998–99. [39049]

Mr. Milburn

[holding answer 20 April 1998]: We have noted the comments about the national weighted capitation formula in the consultation document "The River Runs Dry".

The weighted capitation formula has been updated since the document was published. For 1998/99 allocations, services for people with learning difficulties were weighted for additional need.

As part of their work programme, the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation will consider the possible extra unavoidable costs associated with providing services for ethnic populations and the health needs of mentally disordered offenders.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the final full year figures for(a) Merton and Sutton and (b) Wandsworth district health authorities for (i) the amount by which they were above or below target, (ii) the level of recurring overspend against allocation and (iii) the comparable figures for the new Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority. [39053]

Mr. Milburn

[holding answer 20 April 1998]: Merton and Sutton District Health Authority and Wandsworth District Health Authority were merged on 1 April 1994. The final year that they existed as two separate authorities was therefore 1993/94. However the allocation for 1994/95 was calculated on the old basis and information on the allocation for both years is given in the tables.

1993/94 Allocation (£000) Weighted capitation target(£000) Distance from target(£000) Distance from target(Per cent.)
Merton and Sutton 122,724 119,610 3,114 2.6
Wandsworth 87,243 72,023 15,220 21.1
Total 209,967 191,633 18,334 9.6

1994/95 Allocation (£) Weighted Capitation Target(£) Distance from Target(£) Distance from Target(£) Distance from Target(Per cent.)
Merton and Sutton 122,065 120,060 2,005 1.7
Wandsworth 85,574 72,545 13,029 18.0
Total 207,638 192,604 15,034 7.8

Currently, the allocation and weighted capitation position for Merton Sutton & Wandsworth Health Authority is:

1998/99 Baseline Allocation(£) Weighted capitation target(£) Distance from target(£) Distance from target(Per cent.)
Merton Sutton and Wandsworth 309,537 293,327 16,210 5.5

Infomation on recurrent expenditure was not recorded before 1997/98 so information on recurrent overspending of the two district health authorities at the time of the merger is not available.

The reported surplus/(deficit) in the accounts of the two authorities for 1993/94 (before adjusting for directly managed units and common services) were:

£000
Merton and Sutton (£51)
Wandsworth £1,003