Mr. BendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects the funding for Berkshire Health Authority to be fully on the basis of the weighted capitation formula for the first time; [84178]
(2) if he will estimate the accumulated difference between the funds which would have been provided to Berkshire Health Authority under the weighted capitation formula when the formula was introduced and the amount actually provided. [84179]
§ Mr. DenhamAllocations have been made directly to health authorities since 1996–97.
We remain committed to the principle of achieving equity in resource allocation based on weighted capitation as soon as practicable. Health authorities are brought closer to their target fair share by a process of levelling up. Under target health authorities such as Berkshire will therefore be brought to target over time. In 1999–2000 Berkshire Health Authority's allocation was £15.62 million or 3.50 per cent. below target.
It is possible hypothetically to calculate the additional resources Berkshire Health Authority would have received if they had been funded to target. This can be done by aggregating the health authority's distances from target of each of the years since 1996–97 which gives a cumulative total of £58 million.