§ Mr. HesfordTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what extra resources will be made available to help providers deliver the National Service Framework for mental health; and when such resources will be made available to providers. [114199]
§ Mr. HuttonAdditional investment of £700 million has been provided for health and social services over the three years 1999–2002 to modernise mental health services.
Circulars Allocation Working Paper (99–00) Health Authority 27 and Health Service Circular 1999/038: Local Authorities Circular (99)8 notified health and local authorities of their modernisation fund allocations for 1999–2000.
HSC 1999–243 "Health authority revenue cash limits: 2000–01" set out how each health authority's individual cash limit is made up for 2000–01. Local Authorities Social Services Letter (99)25 "Personal Social Services (PSS) Funding: 2000–01" set out the Mental Health Grant, including modernisation fund, for each local authority for 2000–01.
Health authorities will wish to be assured that robust plans are in place to ensure that this money is spent on the priorities locally which are based on the Mental Health National Service Framework (MHNSF) standards before 429W confirming allocations to providers. The plans for spend of new money will be incorporated into the mental health joint investment plans due to be submitted to regional offices on 31 March 2000. Allocation of funds to National Health Service providers will then be staged to coincide with actual cost demands.
Mental Health Grant allocations to local authorities are made in September and January of each financial year on receipt of claims confirming take up of the grant and compliance with conditions set by the Department in line with MHNSF implementation and, from April 2000, confirmation that money is identified in mental health joint investment plans.