HC Deb 13 November 2001 vol 374 cc687-8W
Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made for the transfer of funding streams from district health authorities to PCTs [14340]

Mr. Hutton

At present my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State allocates resources to health authorities. Health authorities then allocate resources to their primary care trusts. In the future, as part of our programme to devolve power to frontline organisations, we intend that the Secretary of State will allocate resources direct to primary care trusts. The National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Bill, currently before Parliament, seeks to give effect to this.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made to ensure the continuity of employment of staff transferring from district health authorities to component PCTs. [14341]

Mr. Hutton

For staff transferring from health authorities to primary care trusts under Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) Regulations 1981 or by terms reflecting TUPE principles (Transfer Orders), continuity of service will automatically apply. This means that there will be no break in service and existing pay and terms and conditions of employment will be protected at the point of transfer.

Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to make decisions regarding the confirmation of primary care trusts in Cambridgeshire. [14023]

Mr. Hutton

The process of approving applications for primary care trust status is contained in Health Service Circular 1999/167. Primary care trust applications are currently being assessed and will be considered for approval against the published national criteria over the next two months.