Primary Care Groups

HC Deb 05 February 2002 vol 379 cc931-2W

Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instructions he has given to health authorities on the distribution of funding to(a) primary care groups and (b) primary care trusts for 2002–03; and what arrangements he is putting in place for the funding of primary care trusts from 2003 onwards. [30617]

Mr. Hutton

Health Service Circular 1998/171 set out the principles for health authorities to follow in setting primary care group and primary care trust allocations. For 2002–03 these principles continue to `pply but are supplemented by additional guidance set out in HSC 2001/34, "Health Authority Revenue Resource Limits 2002–03". Copies of these documents have been placed Library.

From 2003–04, the intention is that allocations will be made direct to primary care trusts. This is subject to the passage of legislation through Parliament. Allocations will continue to be based on the principle of weighted capitation.