HL Deb 23 January 2002 vol 630 cc212-3WA
Lord Smith of Leigh

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to review the current method of distributing funds within the National Health Service in view of the resulting low level of funding per capita to areas such as the Wigan and Bolton health authority. [HL2366]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

A wide-ranging review of the weighted capitation formula used to allocate resources to health authorities and primary care trusts is currently taking place. A key criterion of the new formula will be to contribute to the reduction of avoidable health inequalities. The intention is that, following the review, the new formula will be ready for 2003–04 allocations.