§ Mr. LansleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what moneys are available in 2001–02 under his Department's contingency fund; how much has been(a) spent and (b) allocated; and for what purposes. [27015]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 14 January 2002]: The departmental unallocated provision for the national health service in 2001–02 was £350 million. Of this £300 million was additional money for the NHS announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his 2001 Budget. This money was made available specifically for boosting recruitment and retention, primary care incentives, capital investment in the Modernisation of nightingale wards and maternity services and in NHS trusts local Modernisation funds. The remaining £50 million departmental unallocated provision was to cover new priorities and pressures requiring capital investment.
All of the departmental unallocated provision will be allocated in 2001–02. Draw down of the funds will be reported to Parliament in winter and spring supplementary estimates.