HC Deb 09 April 2001 vol 366 cc441-2W
Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Newbury constituency, the effects on Newbury and west Berkshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154573]

Ms Stuart

Detailed information on the impact of Department of Health policies nationally is set out in the Department of Health Annual Reports. A copy of the most recent report "Department of Health—Government Expenditure Plans 2000–01" is available in the House of Commons Library and on the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/dhreport.

The impact of policies are not examined by constituency and statistics collected centrally by the Department are not collected on a constituency basis.

The hon. Member's constituency falls within the geographical area covered by Berkshire health authority and West Berkshire social services.

The increases in allocations between 1996–97 and 2001–02 for Berkshire health authority are set out in the table.

Increases in allocations between 1996–97 and 2001–02
Increase
£ million (cash) 144.9
£ million (real terms) 95.6
Percentage (cash) 41.65
Percentage (real terms) 25.51

Note:

Increases for 1999–2000 onwards are for unified allocations which cover hospital and community health services, prescribing and discretionary family health services. Those for previous years cover hospital and community health services only.

Berkshire health authority has also received additional funding for certain policies. This includes: £1.2 million for accident and emergency modernisation in 2000–01; £144,000, £279,000, £418,000 and £283,000 for improving cancer services (breast, colorectal, lung and cancer outpatients) in 1997–98, 1999–00 and 2000–01 respectively.

Berkshire health authority has also received £1.4 million for investment in cancer equipment that has already been delivered and is now in use; £5.3 million, £0.4 million and £0.3 million to reduce waiting lists and times in 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 respectively; £1.6 million to expand critical care services in 2000–01; £2.5 million and £1.6 million to deal with winter pressures in 1998–99 and 2000–01 respectively; £254,000 for heart disease services in 2000–01; £340,000 invested in dentistry in 2000–01.

In addition, the hon. Gentleman's constituents will benefit from the new £74.0 million major hospital development that is being developed at Royal Berkshire and Battle NHS Trust.

West Berkshire local authority came into existence on 1 April 1998. Its personal social services standard spending assessment for 2001–02 is £16.331 million.

In addition to it SSA, West Berkshire has received additional funding in the form of a number of special and specific grants as set out in the table.

£000
1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02
Special Transitional Grant1 669
Partnership grant2 491 416 581
Prevention grant2 42 62 581
Carers grant3 42 97 137
Children's grant3 112 187 412
Mental Health Core grant 106 179 820 4236
Training Support Grant 57 121 123 4153
1The special transitional grant ended in 1998–99
2The partnership and prevention grants have been combined in 2001–02 and called the promoting independence grant
3The carers' and children's grants were introduced in 1999–2000
4Indicative allocation