§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the mechanism used to determine funding for the West Kent Health Authority for(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 and (d) 1998–99; and what factors underlay (i) the requirement for additional funding in (1) 1995–96, (2) 1996–97 and (3) 1997–98 and (ii) the overspend in the current year. [41922]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 18 May 1998]: From 1996–97 a national weighted capitation formula has been used to determine each health authority's target fair share of available resources. Annual decisions are taken on how quickly health authorities are moved closer to their weighted capitation target. Prior to 1996–97 the regional health authority managed the allocation process using a similar formula.
137WOther than moneys held centrally, such as funding for the new deal to help reduce junior doctors hours, additional funds have been provided in 1997–98 to ease the pressures on the health and social care system during the winter and in 1998–99 to reduce National Health Service waiting lists to below the record levels we inherited, by next April.
Figures will be available on the health authority's financial position in 1998–99 at the end of July.