§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional funds have been made available to NHS trusts in Dorset in the current financial year to deal with administration costs. [128640]
§ Ms StuartThe Department does not allocate specific funds to meet National Health Service trusts' administration costs. These are met from within the general allocations to health authorities. Dorset Health Authority's allocation for 2000–01 is £487.3 million, a real terms increase of £25.5 million (5.66 per cent.).
We firmly believe that the NHS needs a sufficient number of good managers to run services efficiently and effectively. Good management is essential to ensure that money is spent prudently on the NHS in order to secure maximum improvements in healthcare. However, we are determined to target wasteful and inefficient practice so that more money is spent on improving health and healthcare services.
§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many surgical procedures he estimates the private health care sector will carry out for the Dorset Health Authority in 2000–01. [128632]
§ Ms StuartThis information requested is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Major General Richard Keightley CB, Chairman of Dorset Health Authority, for information on this matter.