§ 20. Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent NHS spending has been(a) over and (b) under planned levels in the (i) financial year 2000–01 and (ii) first half of this financial year. [19675]
§ Mr. HuttonThe resource underspend for the Department of Health (which includes national health service spending) in 2000–01 was £712 million. The Department plans to spend all resources in the current 731W financial year. To ensure that best use is made of resources in year, end-year flexibility arrangements allow expenditure to be carried forward into the next financial year.